The citizens by investment (CBI) programme is an innovative form of foreign direct investment operating across most OECS countries and has become a key driver of economic growth and national development. However, in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), this proven growth initiative is often reduced to political rhetoric, leaving many citizens misinformed about its purpose and impact. We, the citizens of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, have lost decades of reaching the high-water mark of prosperity that our brothers and sisters in the rest of the Eastern Caribbean have achieved.
CBI, also known as economic citizenship, allows individuals to obtain citizenship by making a significant investment in the host country. St. Kitts and Nevis pioneered the programme decades ago, and today similar initiatives operate in Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Dominica, and St. Lucia. These countries represent some of the strongest and fastest-growing economies in the Eastern Caribbean, all supported meaningfully by CBI revenue.
Despite having the second-lowest GDP in the OECS, SVG possesses a passport that is not materially stronger than those of its neighbours. In global passport rankings, St. Kitts and Nevis and SVG both sit at number 22, while Antigua and Barbuda rank at number 25. In practical terms, a CBI passport from these countries grants access to nearly the same number of visa-free destinations as the SVG passport, yet we continue to dismiss the programme entirely.
The importance of CBI to the region has been reinforced by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank through Governor Timothy Antoine’s proposed regulatory framework and regional oversight mechanism. This acknowledgement underscores what many already know, CBI remains important to the economic stability and advancement of the Eastern Caribbean.
So, when we say, “Passport Can’t Eat”, it is essential to highlight what these programmes have already delivered to our neighbouring islands:
- Modern highways in St. Kitts and Nevis with minimal potholes — funded by CBI.
- Luxury hotels and high-end apartment developments in St. Kitts & Nevis — supported by CBI.
- Double salary bonuses for public servants in St. Kitts & Nevis — made possible through CBI revenues.
- A surge of new upscale hotels in St. Lucia — driven by CBI investment.
- A construction boom in Antigua, including premium condominium projects — enabled by CBI.
- Dominica’s new international airport — currently being built with CBI funding.
- Significantly higher GDP per capita in Grenada, Antigua, St. Kitts, and St. Lucia compared to St. Vincent — CBI was the main driver.
These are not mere abstract policy outcomes; they are visible, tangible improvements that uplift citizens across the Eastern Caribbean.
As a people, we must reflect on whether the leadership that brought us here is adequately prepared for the next stage of national development. Leaders who remain resistant to new ideas, fail to nurture strong technical expertise, or cannot adapt to modern economic realities may hinder our progress rather than advance it. We are long past the post-colonial rhetoric guiding policy formation. The collective well-being of the nation is far too important for decisions to be guided by tribal loyalty or personal agendas.
A rising tide lifts all ships. Our nation deserves policies and leadership that elevate everyone.
Just ah Citizen
The opinions presented in this content belong to the author and may not necessarily reflect the perspectives or editorial stance of iWitness News. Opinion pieces can be submitted to [email protected].
Once there are adequate safeguards, transparency and accountability with the implementation of a CBI program, it can bring about tangible benefits to the country.
Ralph Gonsalves wants for him alone to have the power of granting citizenship. The man is so power-hungry and selfish; it is sickening.
Naturally I embrace the CBI initiative and with the simplicity of reasoning everyone should.
Now there are different forms of capital; for the purpose of argument let’s examine human capital versus foreign direct investment (FDI).
Great Britian (England) grants citizenship to Vincentians who are willing to fight in their army, work in their hospitals and even teach in their country. This is an investment, to obtain the Human capital they require.
The Great USA does the same thing!
In the Caribbean, we do not require this sort of capital, because we don’t fight wars and we have limited hospitals, schools and resources. What we need is to build/develop our infrastructure and improve our limited resources. To do this, we obviously need the “Cash,” known in economic terms as FDI. To obtain this form of capital, similar to America and England, we offer citizenship. This is simply what CBI is.
Of note are;
• There must be an investment in the country.
• CBI does not remove our traditional sources of income
• CBI allows the Government to minimise the tax burden on it’s citizens
• Most of the passport holders of CBI already has access to SVG via it’s OECS membership
• investments are tailored to specific needs or wants (agriculture, tourism, education etc.)
• Our Passport/citizenship is presently being sold in an unregulated, personalised system. CBI will seek to regulate this!
Didn’t SVG issue passports to criminals who ended up in jail? Check out the investments Ralph made in T&T that failed to meet all the legal requirements. It appears this came to light after the Kamla hit back at Ralph’s criticism of her dumb action in supporting the US in the Venezuela issue.
I’ve tried to renew my SVG passport and found it very difficult to go through the process because of the documentation they were asking for. All that information is on my old passport and I don’t have to provide any more info, even my Canadian passport list SVG as my birth country.
A minority of OECS countries have citizenship by investment programmes, get-rich-pick scams that are under serious attacks by First World countries because they are a magnet for money laundering, tax evasion, sex trafficking, and terrorism in the Third World countries that have embraced these cheapening of citizenship efforts.
A US State department memo signed by Marco Rubio has flagged 36 countries in a blacklist for possible full or partial visa ban to enter United States on national security concerns. This in response to the Executive Order signed by President Trump in Protecting The United States From Foreign Terrorists And Other National Security And Public Safety Threats.
Several countries running citizenship by investment were included: Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia, Vanuatu, St.Kitts and Nevis, Egypt, Dominica, Tonga because of concerns that citizenship for sale schemes operated without any residency or genuine link to the country.
If SVG introduced an CBI programme not only will our people be banned from entering America and other wealthy countries but thousands of Vincentians living and working overseas could be rounded up and sent home.