St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Abstains from Key Caribbean Investment Summit.

The 2025 Caribbean Investment Summit (CIS25) in Antigua and Barbuda served as a critical platform for Caribbean nations participating in Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs to address the challenges and opportunities facing the industry. Prime Ministers from several participating countries, including Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Lucia, and Grenada, demonstrated a united front, emphasizing their commitment to integrity and stability within their respective CBI programs. However, the conspicuous absence of Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew of St. Kitts and Nevis, the birthplace of CBI, cast a long shadow over the proceedings and raised serious questions about the nation’s future involvement in the sector. This absence was particularly striking given the recent struggles of the St. Kitts and Nevis CBI program under Drew’s leadership, including a significant drop in revenue and damage to its global reputation.

The summit focused on crucial issues such as unified due diligence measures, transparent marketing, regulatory adaptation, policy harmonization, and rebuilding global confidence—all areas where St. Kitts and Nevis has faced significant challenges. PM Drew’s non-attendance, therefore, was interpreted as a missed opportunity to address these concerns, reassure international stakeholders, and reaffirm the country’s commitment to the regional reform agenda. Instead, his absence fueled speculation about internal disarray, potential disagreements with the regional approach to CBI reform, and a possible strategic disengagement from the collective effort to safeguard the industry’s integrity.

The St. Kitts and Nevis CBI program has been plagued by controversy under Prime Minister Drew’s tenure. Policy changes implemented in 2023, coupled with the controversial appointment of businessman Philippe Martinez as the sole CBI benefactor, have eroded investor confidence and led to a sharp decline in applications. These actions, coupled with a series of scandals surrounding the program, have tarnished the reputation of a program once considered the gold standard in investment migration. The Prime Minister’s decision to skip the CIS25 summit further exacerbated these concerns, signaling a potential unwillingness to engage with regional partners in addressing the program’s shortcomings.

While Attorney General Garth Wilkin represented St. Kitts and Nevis at the summit, the lack of leadership presence from Prime Minister Drew sent a powerful message. It suggested a lack of commitment to the collaborative efforts being undertaken by other Caribbean nations to bolster the integrity and sustainability of their CBI programs. This perceived isolation could further damage the reputation of the St. Kitts and Nevis program and potentially lead to further economic consequences. The silence from the government in Basseterre following the summit only amplified the concerns and fueled speculation about the future direction of the nation’s CBI program.

The contrast between the unified front presented by other Caribbean leaders and the absence of St. Kitts and Nevis’s Prime Minister highlighted the nation’s precarious position within the CBI landscape. While other countries reaffirmed their commitment to transparency, enhanced due diligence, and regional collaboration, St. Kitts and Nevis appeared to be charting a different course. This divergence raises concerns about whether the country can regain its former standing as a leader in the CBI industry or whether it risks further marginalization. The summit underscored the importance of regional cooperation in navigating the challenges facing CBI programs and rebuilding trust with international investors. St. Kitts and Nevis’s absence from this crucial conversation raises serious questions about its commitment to these shared goals.

The fallout from PM Drew’s no-show at CIS25 remains to be seen. However, it undoubtedly adds another layer of complexity to the already challenging situation facing the St. Kitts and Nevis CBI program. The lack of communication from the government further exacerbates the uncertainty surrounding the program’s future. Whether St. Kitts and Nevis can recover from these setbacks and reclaim its leadership role in the CBI industry will depend on the actions taken by the Drew administration in the coming months. The international community will be watching closely to see if the country takes steps to address the concerns raised at the summit and re-engage with its regional partners in a meaningful way. The future of the St. Kitts and Nevis CBI program, and its contribution to the nation’s economy, hangs in the balance.