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Saint Vincent Deputy PM Outlines Framework for Planned CBI Program

The last OECS nation without a CBI program outlines its multi-institutional framework as Deputy PM emphasizes accountability, regional best practices, and job creation over pure revenue generation.
Moustafa Daly IMI

Moustafa Daly

IMI
• Cairo

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is working towards establishing a Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program following the New Democratic Party’s election victory last month.

Deputy Prime Minister Major St. Clair Leacock just provided the first detailed position on how the government plans to structure the program.

Recently speaking on local radio, Leacock addressed questions about citizenship and national security, describing the program as central to the country’s economic transformation while emphasizing that implementation will require careful management grounded in accountability and transparency.

“Citizenship by investment will be an important contributor to the economic transformation that must and will take place,” Leacock stated, adding that the initiative must create employment opportunities that meet residents’ basic needs.

The Deputy PM, who also serves as Minister of National Security and Immigration, indicated that multiple government institutions will share responsibility for administering the framework.

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Multi-Institutional Oversight Planned

Leacock indicated that the government will establish specific institutions to manage the process, ensuring the program serves both as an investment vehicle and as a platform for sustainable development.

He clarified that while his ministry will play a role in citizenship matters, the Attorney General’s office and other institutions will anchor the program’s administration.

The government, he added, intends to adopt regional best practices, citing Grenada’s recent reforms as a model for stronger oversight, and alluding to the regional Memorandum of Agreement that standardizes investments, security measures, and collaboration across the five regional CBI programs in Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Grenada.

Leacock emphasized that the program will not compromise national security and will require applicants to meet strict standards to qualify.

Policy Shift Follows Strong Public Backing

The government’s position marks a sharp departure from the previous administration’s approach. Former Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves consistently rejected CBI programs during his 24-year tenure, which ended when the NDP secured 57% of the popular vote last November.

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The opposition had advocated for CBI since at least 2018, with party leader and now-Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday introducing specific program plans in October 2024.

Friday dismissed criticisms about “selling passports” and emphasized that the program’s benefits would flow directly to public servants and those on public assistance rather than political figures.

A May 2025 survey by Sentinel Research Group found substantial public backing for introducing a CBI program. The poll of 1,004 registered voters showed 62% support for implementing the program, while only 28% opposed the idea.

The poll also showed 68% reject the notion that offering citizenship for investment diminishes national identity, while 64% believe a CBI program would not make travel more difficult for Vincentians to countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, or the European Union.

These findings directly contradicted Gonsalves’ stance: 62% of respondents opposed his position on CBI programs, and 66% viewed his rhetoric as divisive, even if well-intentioned.

Regional Context and Launch Timeline

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines remains the only independent member of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) without an operational CBI program.

But questions remain about whether Saint Vincent and the Grenadines will adhere to the established Caribbean minimum contribution of US$200,000 and the encumbrances outlined in the Caribbean CBI Principles agreement with the United States.

The government has not yet released specific details regarding contribution levels, investment options, or the timeline for launching the program.

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