In a historic display of bipartisan cooperation, opposition and government Members of Parliament in Antigua and Barbuda came together on Thursday to ratify the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (ECCIRA) Agreement and pass the ECCIRA Bill 2025. This landmark legislation formalizes a regional framework designed to harmonize and strengthen oversight of citizenship by investment (CBI) programs across the Eastern Caribbean. The agreement, initially signed in September by Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia, establishes ECCIRA as a centralized authority to regulate and monitor CBI initiatives. Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who introduced the measures, hailed the move as a “historic turning point” for the region’s investment migration sector. He emphasized that the framework would set a “global gold standard” for transparency, accountability, and security. The new authority will monitor promoters, agents, and due-diligence providers, maintain a regional register of licensed service providers, enforce sanctions of up to US$250,000 for regulatory breaches, and coordinate with CARICOM IMPACS and other international bodies. Additionally, ECCIRA will promote risk-based auditing, publish annual transparency reports, and spearhead regional training to enhance compliance and investigative capabilities. The governance structure includes a Council of Ministers from each member state and a nine-member board with representatives from the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, OECS Commission, and CARICOM IMPACS. Opposition MPs supported the initiative, praising it as essential for protecting the region’s reputation and investor confidence. The unanimous approval of both the treaty and the bill underscores Antigua and Barbuda’s commitment to regional cooperation and self-regulation. Prime Minister Browne concluded, “This is about sustainability and protecting our people’s interests. It shows that, as a region, we are capable of integrity, accountability, and collective leadership.”
MP’s From Both Sides Back New Regional Authority to Police Citizenship by Investment Program
