Here are 7 questions we wish future CBI opinion writers would address with facts

By Demion McTair. Updated 6:39 p.m., Wednesday, May 14, 2025, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4). 

One News SVG neither supports nor opposes the implementation of a Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme. As we enter the 2025 election season, the question of whether St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) should introduce a Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme, similar to those adopted by some of its OECS counterparts, has become a prominent topic of discussion.

The incumbent Unity Labour Party (ULP) rejects the idea, citing the sacrosanct nature of citizenship, concerns about the quality of other CBI programmes in the region, and the need for alignment with international requirements regarding travel and security within the global community.

In contrast, the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP), which is the main advocate for a CBI programme in SVG, argues that such a scheme should be embraced to promote greater economic freedom, reduce public debt, and encourage community-driven investments under a well-structured and closely monitored programme.

Members of academia have also been discussing the issue, and as a fair, balanced, and modern media house, One News SVG has welcomed and published all perspectives to date.

This is not an editorial on the subject. Instead, it is an opportunity for us to highlight some questions that we believe are either not being addressed at all or not being sufficiently explored in the ongoing CBI debate.

Some of these questions originate from members of the public, while others have been raised by our editorial team.

Requesting our current and future CBI contributors to answer these questions does not mean we are abdicating our responsibility to conduct research. Rather, it allows us to fulfil our duty to encourage further debate and discussion, and to mediate that process fairly.

As such, here are some of the questions we believe are not being addressed adequately, or at all, in the ongoing national discussion on CBI:

• Question from the public: Who are the categories of people seeking Vincentian/Caribbean passports, and why are they willing to pay significant sums for them?
• Question from the public: If the CBI programme were to collapse due to international pressure, what would that mean for the promises made regarding the programme’s expected outcomes?
• Question from One News SVG: Would it be detrimental to introduce a limited CBI scheme that restricts the number of people admitted each year and ties their contributions to specific development projects?
• Question from One News SVG: Who stands to benefit most from the CBI? Who are the key players advocating for this initiative behind the scenes?
• Question from the public: Why have CBI programmes been associated with scandals in OECS countries?
• Question from the public: Why is SVG experiencing greater growth than its CBI-implementing counterparts, despite not having a CBI programme?
• Question from One News SVG: Is it too late for SVG to capitalize on CBI?

We encourage all contributors to address these questions with evidence and clarity as the national conversation continues.

Remember that opinion pieces can be sent to onenewsstvincent@gmail.com, and questions can be submitted via our Facebook page.

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