SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS TABLES LANDMARK BILL TO ESTABLISH REGIONAL CBI REGULATORY AUTHORITY

BASSETERRE, Saint Kitts, October 07, 2025 (SKNIS) – The Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis continues to lead in the historic steps to enhance the integrity and global standing of Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programmes in the Eastern Caribbean, with the tabling of the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship By Investment Regulatory Authority Agreement Bill, 2025 in the National Assembly.

The landmark Bill, presented by Prime Minister and Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, during the October 06 Sitting of the National Assembly, paves the way for the establishment of a regional regulatory authority to oversee and strengthen the operation of all CBI programmes across participating Eastern Caribbean States.

The Eastern Caribbean Citizenship By Investment Regulatory Authority Agreement Bill gives legal effect to an agreement signed by the Heads of Government of the participating states in September 2025. These are Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia. When passed, the legislation will establish the Authority with a mandate to provide general oversight, regulation, and enforcement within the Citizenship by Investment sector, ensuring programmes operate with the highest levels of transparency, accountability, and due diligence.

The Bill also introduces offences and penalties for breaches of the Act, the Regulatory Law, or any related regulations. It will further empower the Authority with strong enforcement mechanisms to uphold compliance, safeguard the integrity of the CBI framework, and bolster public and international confidence in the system. Transitional provisions are also included to ensure the smooth and effective commencement of the Authority’s functions.

The signing of the regional agreement and the subsequent introduction of this Bill represent another significant milestone in the transformative reform agenda led by Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew and his administration since taking office in 2022. These reforms aim to modernise and fortify Saint Kitts and Nevis’ CBI Programme through regional cooperation and strengthened governance.

The reform process has been guided by extensive consultations with regional stakeholders and key international partners, including the Governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Commission. These collaborative efforts underscore Saint Kitts and Nevis’ commitment to ensuring that the region’s CBI offerings continue to meet the most rigorous international standards and best practices.

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