Last Updated on July 17, 2026, 5:41 PM AST by Anthony Morris
Dr Terrance Drew spoke to the members of the media during the July edition of the Roundtable and spoke about the CBI Programme of the country. The topic came to be discussed during the media interaction in response to the letters that the European Union sent to five Eastern Caribbean states. In this letter, the EU directed the states to take steps to phase out their CBI programmes by 2028.
Dr Drew, Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, handles the responsibility for the Citizenship by Investment Programme of St Kitts and Nevis. He spoke in response to this letter during the media interaction.
During his opening remarks he asserted that since getting into office, his administration has taken steps to reduce their economic dependence on the CBI. He highlighted that when they took office CBI income contributed 22% of St Kitts and Nevis GDP. The government has since taken measures to bring that number down to approximately 9%.
He also stated that everything that is happening around the CBI programme we recognize we would have to deal with. Dr Drew has promised that St. Kitts and Nevis is ready and they have positioned our economy on a sustainable agenda.
According to the Prime Minister, they have strengthened CBI laws, improved due diligence and taken efforts to bring the programme back to its previous platinum standard.
The result of the reforms came in the form of the rescinding of the FinCeN advisory placed on St Kitts and Nevis by the United States of America in 2014. Dr Drew also confirmed that the nation now has partial Visa Free Access to Canada, which is also being credited to the new, strengthened and reformed Citizenship Programme.
The Prime Minister has confirmed that St Kitts and Nevis will continue to work on their Citizenship Programme while exploring different avenues for development and economic diversification.
Dr Terrance Drew said, “We we continue to strengthen the program, and I’ll continue to strengthen it, and do everything to make sure it is protected so our international partners can be comfortable with it.”
The Prime Minister also talked about the introduction of biometric in the CBI Programme as a measure of added security. “Everybody who is in the program, by June 2027, you must have your biometrics done. If your biometrics are not done, you’re out. And that will give us even a greater sense of security of the programme” Dr Drew said.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
