In a comprehensive policy statement, Premier Mark Brantley of Nevis has declared the Citizenship by Investment Program (CBI) effectively defunct while outlining an ambitious eleven-point strategy to fundamentally reshape the economy of St. Kitts and Nevis. The Premier’s vision calls for urgent economic diversification to reduce dependency on volatile sectors and build resilience against external economic shocks.
The cornerstone of Brantley’s proposal involves accelerating renewable energy development, particularly geothermal resources, positioning the federation to become “the Norway of the Caribbean.” This energy transformation would support new industries requiring substantial cheap power, including artificial intelligence centers, while generating employment and reducing energy costs for residents and businesses.
Agricultural security features prominently in the plan, with initiatives to establish a broiler industry and achieve self-sufficiency in eggs, poultry, and specific crops. The Premier emphasized that “food security is national security,” highlighting how domestic production would buffer against international market fluctuations.
The proposal further advocates for full cannabis legalization across research, medicinal, and recreational applications, coupled with comprehensive public education programs. Additionally, Brantley calls for maximizing returns from the cruise industry by harmonizing head taxes across the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States to match higher regional standards.
Creative economy investments would expand through established events like MusicFest and SugarMas, while special economic zones would target technology, AI, hospitality, education, and healthcare sectors. The plan also includes incentives for diaspora investment, small business development, comprehensive tax reform to stimulate local consumption, and growth of offshore education programs to attract international students.
A particularly critical component addresses demographic challenges, with strategies to increase the national population through targeted migration and diaspora repatriation programs. Brantley noted the impossibility of serious national development with a working population below 30,000 people.
The Premier concluded that with CBI programs declining and tourism remaining unpredictable, the federation stands at a crossroads requiring collective effort to establish a new sustainable economic paradigm.