Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda delivered a robust justification for the nation’s Citizenship by Investment Programme (CBI) during the inaugural session of the Caribbean-European Union Parliamentary Assembly. The high-level gathering, convened from February 16-18 at the American University of Antigua Convention Centre, provided a platform for addressing one of the Caribbean’s most contentious policy areas currently under European examination.
In his address, Prime Minister Browne characterized the CBI initiative as both lawful and transparent, emphasizing its critical role as a developmental mechanism for small island nations striving for economic stability. The programme, according to Browne, operates within meticulously designed legal frameworks accompanied by rigorous oversight protocols that exceed international standards.
The capital generated through these investment migration schemes has been strategically deployed to finance hurricane recovery operations, construct climate-resilient infrastructure, expand healthcare services, develop educational facilities, and ensure fiscal stabilization across participating Caribbean nations.
Browne revealed that Caribbean governments have engaged in an extensive 18-month consultation process with European Union, United Kingdom, and United States authorities to strengthen programme integrity. Dismissing claims of elevated risk associated with CBI, the Prime Minister contended that the multilayered due diligence procedures, advanced biometric screening systems, and financial transparency requirements implemented by Caribbean nations frequently surpass the scrutiny applied to certain non-immigrant visa categories.
While acknowledging that citizenship policy falls squarely within national sovereignty, Browne advocated for continued evidence-based dialogue with EU officials rather than unilateral restrictions as discussions regarding visa access and investment migration policies progress.