‘Stability and Sustainability’: Caribbean Leaders Back Unified Approach to Investment Migration

St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda – Regional leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to a unified and transparent approach to investment migration, as calls grow for greater regulatory harmonisation in response to mounting international scrutiny.

Speaking at the opening of the 2025 Caribbean Investment Summit, Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda welcomed fellow heads of government and key stakeholders from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), noting the shared responsibility to strengthen Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programmes across the region.

“This summit is taking place at a critical juncture,” Browne said. “In an era of global uncertainty, economic volatility, and geopolitical tension, stability and sustainability are not just ideals — they are requirements.”

He hailed progress on the establishment of a regional regulatory commission for CBI programmes, a long-standing proposal now moving into the implementation phase. The initiative, championed by Browne and Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica more than a decade ago, is designed to enhance compliance, boost transparency, and reinforce trust with international partners.

The move comes as Caribbean CBI jurisdictions face increasing pressure from the European Union, the United States, and other global actors to tighten due diligence, share intelligence, and prevent misuse by illicit actors. Browne said that while Antigua and Barbuda’s own programme continues to meet high international standards, regional alignment was essential to safeguarding access to key markets and preserving the credibility of investment migration.

He also welcomed ongoing collaboration with international law enforcement and regulatory agencies, and acknowledged reforms made in response to specific recommendations, including those from the United States.

Regional leaders at the summit expressed broad support for the new regulatory body, which is expected to set common benchmarks for eligibility, screening, and programme governance.

Held under the theme Integrity. Stability. Sustainability, the summit highlighted both the economic importance of CBI revenues to small island states and the need to protect these programmes through responsible, coordinated action.

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