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  • Pringle Says Government Failed to Secure Better Terms in US Deportee Agreement

    Pringle Says Government Failed to Secure Better Terms in US Deportee Agreement

    A fierce political clash has erupted in Antigua and Barbuda over the Gaston Browne administration’s proposed third-country deportee agreement with the United States, with Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle launching sweeping criticism of the government’s diplomatic handling and lack of transparency around the deal.

    Speaking at a United Progressive Party (UPP) town hall focused on the government’s recently released White Paper on the arrangement, Pringle argued that the administration failed to secure any meaningful protections for Antigua and Barbuda before committing to accept deportees from third countries transferred via the United States. Far from showcasing the prime minister’s self-proclaimed diplomatic prowess, Pringle said the deal demonstrates mere compliance with U.S. demands rather than successful negotiation on behalf of the island nation.

    “Prime Minister Gaston Browne has repeatedly boasted about his diplomatic skills, but a close reading of the available documents makes clear that no real negotiation ever took place,” Pringle told attendees. “The U.S. is set to send these individuals to our country, and we are simply expected to accept them, with no safeguards in place for our nation.”

    Pringle pointed to a critical timeline laid out in the White Paper itself to back his claims: the Browne administration signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S. before American officials even submitted draft operating procedures for the arrangement. Only after the MOU was finalized did the government draft counterproposals to the U.S. plan — yet neither the original signed MOU nor the government’s counterproposals have been released to the public or parliament.

    This lack of disclosure has forced lawmakers and citizens to debate only the government’s curated description of the deal, rather than the full, official text of the agreement itself, Pringle emphasized. He added that the government’s commitment to the arrangement was locked in long before any parliamentary debate was scheduled, undermining the purpose of public and legislative scrutiny.

    “The actual text of the MOU remains behind closed doors,” Pringle said. “Antiguans and Barbudans are not allowed to review the agreement themselves; we only get the version of events the government chooses to publish in the White Paper. That is not how transparent democracy works.”

    Pringle also noted that Browne has already confirmed the deportee transfers will move forward regardless of debate, saying “the prime minister admitted it is not a question of if they are coming — he confirmed they are already on their way.”

    The opposition leader extended his criticism beyond the deportee deal to question the Browne administration’s overall track record on international diplomacy, pointing to ongoing challenges that have harmed Antigua and Barbuda’s citizens. He noted that the country already faces U.S. visa restrictions, added to existing Canadian visa rules, and is at risk of losing visa-free travel access to the European Union — outcomes he says are evidence of the government’s failed diplomatic strategy.

    “Voters have been told for years about the prime minister’s great diplomatic skill, but we have yet to see that skill deliver results for our people,” Pringle said.

    He also hit out at the government’s ongoing refusal to share full details of the negotiations with the public, even as the arrangement carries profound social and economic implications for the small island nation. “This is an extraordinarily complex issue, and you cannot have an honest, open debate when all the critical information is hidden from the people who are affected by this deal,” he said.

    In response to the opposition’s criticism, the government has reaffirmed that parliament will hold a formal debate on the White Paper outlining the proposed deportee arrangement in the coming period.

  • Cost Pro Workers Fear They May Never Receive Outstanding Pay After Sudden Closure

    Cost Pro Workers Fear They May Never Receive Outstanding Pay After Sudden Closure

    The sudden and permanent shutdown of Cost Pro Supermarket at Woods Mall has left dozens of its employees facing deep uncertainty over unpaid wages, severance, and earned benefits, after workers were given unsigned termination notices with little advance warning of the closure.

    According to one anonymous long-tenured staff member, the entire team finished their scheduled shifts without any indication that the grocery location would close its doors permanently. It was only after employees had finished their workday and gone home that word spread via colleague-to-colleague messages that all staff were required to return to the supermarket that same evening to collect formal termination documents.

    “Most of us had to turn around and head back to the mall after our shift to pick up these letters,” the employee explained in an interview. “There was no formal communication from management ahead of time — we only found out through word of mouth from other staff.”

    What has deepened workers’ distrust and anxiety is the unusual nature of the termination notices they received. The documents, which confirm that all positions have been eliminated due to redundancy, do not explicitly state that the supermarket has permanently closed, nor do they carry a signature from any member of the company’s management team. Instead, workers were told the manager would only place a company stamp on the notices, and that they would need to return at a later date to collect their final paychecks.

    “This letter doesn’t even name who the management is, or clearly state the business is closed,” the employee said. “How do we know this document is even valid?”

    Concerns over unpaid compensation have been amplified by past labor disputes involving the same business owner, Duggins, who operates another separate establishment in the region. According to the employee, that previous location also shut down suddenly without warning, and workers never received the back pay, salaries, or severance compensation they were owed for their years of service.

    “We already saw this happen with Mr. Duggins’ other business,” the employee alleged. “One day workers showed up for their shift and the doors were locked, and they never got a cent of what they were owed. That history has all of us really worried this will happen again here.”

    Long-serving staff members, including those who have worked at the supermarket for nine years or more, say they are especially anxious about the outcome. Many have spent decades building their careers at the location, and are now facing unemployment with no guarantee they will receive the severance and end-of-service benefits they are legally entitled to. “How can we be confident we’ll get what we’re owed, when we’ve already seen what happened with his other business?” the employee asked.

    For its part, the unsigned termination notice issued to workers does lay out a formal timeline for final payments: the document confirms that all salaries will be paid through July 9, and that a full final payment statement — including any owed vacation pay, statutory notice pay, and applicable severance — will be issued to all employees by July 17. The notice also requires all workers to return any company-owned property, such as uniforms or work equipment, by that same deadline. But workers say past experience has left them with little faith that this timeline will be honored, leaving them in limbo as they navigate sudden unemployment.

  • Defoe rejects claims of political bias as government completes hand over of fishing boats

    Defoe rejects claims of political bias as government completes hand over of fishing boats

    # Dominica Government Completes $2M Fishing Vessel Replacement Program, Rejects Claims of Political Favoritism

    In a formal ceremony held in the coastal community of Scotts Head, Dominican government officials marked the completion of a landmark $2 million fisheries rehabilitation initiative, formally handing over the final batch of eight newly built fishing vessels to local fishermen. This delivery brings the total number of replacement vessels distributed through the program to 54, all constructed by local boat-building craftspeople as part of the government’s pledge to restore the island nation’s fishing sector.

    Addressing attendees at the event, Jullan Defoe — Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy — pushed back against widespread public speculation that political party affiliation influenced which fishermen received new vessels. Defoe stressed that every beneficiary selected for the program underwent a rigorous, transparent verification process to confirm their eligibility.

    “Every single one of the 54 individuals who have received replacement boats had their claims of lost or damaged vessels independently assessed, cross-checked, and verified,” Defoe explained. “Public speculation about political favoritism is unfounded — I can state clearly on this public platform that political affiliation played zero role in the selection process.”

    The minister outlined the core eligibility criteria that all applicants were required to meet: each beneficiary had to prove they were the registered owner of a vessel that was confirmed destroyed or lost, with physical evidence of the damage or loss reviewed by officials before approval. “These are not handouts to politically connected individuals,” Defoe emphasized. “These fishermen were already active, invested participants in our fishing industry, and this program simply helps them restore the livelihoods they lost.”

    Racquel Andrew, representative for the Soufriere Constituency, delivered remarks on behalf of Tourism Minister Denise Charles-Pemberton, acknowledging the inherent challenges of small-scale fishing in the Caribbean. “Fishing is far from an easy profession: some days bring abundant catches, other days leave you empty-handed, yet bills still need to be paid, and children still need to go to school,” Andrew noted. She added that the government’s vision extends far beyond simply distributing replacement vessels, focused instead on building a more robust, sustainable fishing industry overall.

    As part of this broader strategy, Andrew highlighted ongoing government projects that will enable local fishermen to produce value-added seafood products — including packaged fresh seafood, smoked fish, and fish dips — that can be sold at premium prices. This investment, she explained, is particularly critical as Dominica enters the annual Atlantic hurricane season, building greater economic resilience for coastal fishing communities.

    Andrew framed each new vessel as more than just equipment: it is a symbol of hope, opportunity, and the government’s commitment to the fishing community. “May these vessels bring you safe voyages, bountiful catches, and brighter futures for your families,” she said. “My hope is that one day, products marked ‘Made in Scotts Head, Dominica’ will be recognized across the Caribbean and beyond as a benchmark of quality, pride, and excellence.”

    Wynnona Joseph, Acting Chief Fisheries Officer, echoed these sentiments, framing the completion of the vessel distribution as a reflection of the government’s ongoing commitment to the fishing communities that sustain Dominica’s food security and coastal economies. “This ceremony is about far more than handing over boats,” Joseph said. “It represents a transformative investment in the future of our fisheries sector, and most importantly, an investment in the hard-working men and women whose dedication keeps this vital industry running.”

    Joseph noted that the new, purpose-built vessels will offer fishermen improved working conditions, greater operational efficiency, enhanced safety at sea, and expanded opportunities to boost productivity and incomes. The program also marks a key milestone in the government’s broader push to modernize Dominica’s fisheries sector and improve livelihoods across all of the island’s fishing communities.

    She urged beneficiaries to treat their new vessels as valuable long-term assets, encouraging responsible use, regular maintenance, sound financial planning, and continued reinvestment in their operations. Joseph also emphasized the non-negotiable importance of sea safety, reminding fishermen that safe return after every voyage must always be their top priority. “The sea provides our livelihood, but it demands our respect,” she said. “We urge all fishermen to conduct routine maintenance, carry proper safety equipment, check weather forecasts before every departure, and fully comply with all fisheries regulations.”

    Joseph reaffirmed the Dominican Fisheries Division’s ongoing commitment to supporting fishing communities across the island through targeted training, technical assistance, improved infrastructure, and expanded development opportunities. “We will continue working hand-in-hand with our fishermen to build a modern, resilient, and sustainable fisheries sector that delivers benefits for current and future generations of Dominicans,” she added.

  • Antiguan-Born Attorney Beverly Benjamin George Installed as President of Queens County Women’s Bar Association

    Antiguan-Born Attorney Beverly Benjamin George Installed as President of Queens County Women’s Bar Association

    On June 23, at the Queens County Women’s Bar Association’s (QCWBA) Annual Installation Dinner, a historic milestone was marked as Antiguan-born attorney Beverly Benjamin George officially took office as the organization’s president for the 2026–2027 term. The ceremonial swearing-in drew a diverse crowd of distinguished guests, including sitting members of the judiciary, prominent figures from New York’s legal community, elected public officials, local community leaders, as well as George’s close family and friends.

    Founded nearly a century ago in 1930, QCWBA holds the distinction of being one of the oldest enduring women’s bar associations in the state of New York. For nearly 100 years, the organization has anchored its mission around four core pillars: advancing the fair and equal administration of justice across the legal system, creating pathways for the professional advancement of women in legal careers, supporting ongoing skill-building and growth for its members, and delivering public value to neighborhoods across Queens through educational outreach and community-focused service.

    George, whose entire professional career has been rooted in public service and work with the New York State Unified Court System, expressed deep humility and gratitude for the opportunity to lead the historic organization. As she accepted the role of QCWBA’s 95th president, she reflected on the long, interconnected journeys that brought all members and stakeholders together to mark this moment in the association’s legacy.

    “It is with profound gratitude and humility that I assume the office of the 95th President of the Queens County Women’s Bar Association,” George shared in her remarks after the swearing-in. “As we celebrate this milestone, I pause to reflect upon the many winding paths that have been drawn between us, all converging at this singular moment of our Association’s history.”

    She added: “It is an extraordinary honor to serve as President of the Queens County Women’s Bar Association. I look forward to building upon the Association’s proud legacy while fostering meaningful connections among our members, supporting the next generation of attorneys, and continuing our commitment to service within the legal profession and the communities we serve.”

    Beyond her work in the New York legal sphere, George is a widely recognized public figure in her home country of Antigua and Barbuda. She is a founding member of Antiguans and Barbudans for Constitutional Reform and Education (ABCRE), an educational non-profit forum that produces a weekly radio segment on Observer Radio. The program focuses on unpacking constitutional issues and expanding civic education for audiences across the twin-island nation.

  • Vacancy: Operations Manager – Zirachi Group Airbnb properties

    Vacancy: Operations Manager – Zirachi Group Airbnb properties

    As the short-term vacation rental market continues to grow across the Caribbean, Grenada-based Zirachi Group has opened a new full-time position for an experienced Operations Manager to lead the daily oversight and strategic management of its expanding portfolio of Airbnb and other short-term rental properties.

    The successful candidate will take ownership of every core operational function across the property network. Primary duties include end-to-end management of day-to-day property activities, seamless coordination of guest arrival and departure processes, and maintaining consistent, clear communication with guests throughout their stay. The role also requires supervising all housekeeping workflows, scheduling proactive and reactive property maintenance, and conducting routine property inspections to uphold brand standards. A key performance target for the position will be maintaining the highest possible benchmarks for cleanliness, property presentation, and overall guest satisfaction to drive positive reviews and repeat bookings.

    Additional responsibilities include managing all listings across major booking platforms, implementing data-driven strategies to optimize occupancy rates and maximize revenue, addressing guest inquiries in a timely fashion, resolving any on-site or pre-arrival issues, and mediating feedback from customer reviews. The Operations Manager will also be tasked with liaising closely with third-party vendors, contractors, and local service providers to ensure all outsourced work is completed on time and to specification, as well as compiling regular operational reports and tracking key performance metrics to assess individual property and overall portfolio performance.

    To be considered for the role, candidates must demonstrate prior hands-on experience in one of the following sectors: hospitality management, residential or vacation property management, or the short-term rental industry. Required soft skills include strong leadership capabilities to coordinate cross-functional work, exceptional organizational skills to manage multiple properties simultaneously, and top-tier communication and customer service abilities to engage with both guests and external partners. While not mandatory, prior experience working directly with Airbnb and other major short-term booking platforms is considered a significant advantage. Candidates must also be comfortable working independently, managing competing priorities in a fast-paced environment, and have working proficiency with Microsoft Office and standard basic reporting tools.

    Ziraachi Group highlights several key benefits for the successful applicant, including clear pathways for professional career growth within a dynamic organization that is actively expanding its footprint in Grenada’s tourism and short-term rental sector, as well as a supportive, collaborative, and professional work culture. The position is based on-location in Grenada, and all candidates must be able to work locally in the country.

    Applicants interested in joining the team and helping the company deliver standout, memorable guest experiences to visitors to Grenada are invited to submit a updated professional resume and a tailored cover letter to the company’s dedicated recruitment email at [email protected].

    This recruitment posting is provided by contributor Zirachi Group, per the statement of local publication NOW Grenada, which does not take responsibility for the content, opinions, or statements included in contributor-provided content. Users can report abusive content through the publication’s official reporting channel.

  • Pringle Warns Antigua and Barbuda Lacks Capacity to Manage Third-Country Deportees

    Pringle Warns Antigua and Barbuda Lacks Capacity to Manage Third-Country Deportees

    The leader of Antigua and Barbuda’s main opposition bloc, Jamale Pringle, has raised urgent alarms over a proposed bilateral deportation agreement with the United States, arguing that the small Caribbean nation lacks both the foundational legal structure and institutional resources to responsibly manage third-country deportees transferred under the deal. Pringing made these criticisms during a public town hall meeting hosted by the United Progressive Party, where he centered his remarks on gaps explicitly acknowledged by the ruling government in its own policy White Paper for the arrangement.

    Pringle pointed out that Antigua and Barbuda currently has no independent, standalone Refugees Act, nor does it have dedicated legislation to address the legal status of stateless people or individuals who cannot be removed to another country. This is particularly concerning, he emphasized, because the government’s own White Paper acknowledges that transferred deportees could easily fall into one of these unregulated categories. Without a formal legal framework in place, people who cannot be repatriated to either their country of origin or the United States would be left in permanent legal limbo, with no domestic statutes to guide the government in determining their residency, rights, or long-term status.

    Beyond the legal gaps, Pringle stressed that the strain of absorbing deportees would extend far beyond immigration policy, placing additional unnecessary pressure on public services that are already operating at maximum capacity. Even if the government initially caps the number of transfers, he argued, accepting any deportees would trigger binding international legal obligations that the country’s current domestic legislation is not equipped to uphold.

    Pringle went on to note that the government’s White Paper itself confirms the country’s limitations: as a small island developing state, Antigua and Barbuda has limited population and infrastructure absorptive capacity, and its public services are already stretched thin by existing demand. The document, he said, explicitly warns that receiving third-country deportees carries tangible risks to domestic public order and social cohesion.

    “The government’s own paper tells us that accepting these people will create major challenges that we are not positioned to handle, because it could harm public order and our social fabric,” Pringle said during the meeting. “If all of these risks are already laid out on the table, why is the government still moving forward with this as an inevitability, rather than a choice that requires fixing these gaps first?”

    The opposition leader also outlined a series of unanswered practical questions about the proposal, including where transferred deportees would be housed, how administrative and legal processes for their status would be funded and operated, and what protocols would be put in place to address unforeseen issues that arise. He further argued that parliament is being blocked from conducting a full, transparent debate of the proposal because lawmakers have not been granted access to the full underlying Memorandum of Understanding and other core operational documents. Instead, he said, legislators are only able to review the government’s curated interpretation of the agreement, rather than the full binding text itself.

    For its part, the ruling government has confirmed that parliament will hold a formal debate on the White Paper outlining the proposed third-country deportation arrangement in the near future.

  • IMF: Mondiale economie vertraagt naar 3 procent groei

    IMF: Mondiale economie vertraagt naar 3 procent groei

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has downgraded its 2026 global economic growth forecast for the second time in 2026, as persistent volatility from the energy crisis sparked by escalating conflict between the United States, Iran and regional allies continues to weigh on global economic activity. The latest projection puts 2026 global gross domestic product growth at 3%, a 0.1 percentage point downward revision from the IMF’s April forecast.

    This mild slowdown in aggregate global growth is partially buffered by a surging investment boom centered on artificial intelligence, which is driving new consumer and enterprise demand and accelerating cross-sector innovation, according to the IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook update. The fund projects global growth will rebound to 3.4% in 2027, a figure that remains just slightly below the 3.5% average growth rate recorded across 2024 and 2025.

    The most acute economic shock from the recent conflict escalation has landed on global energy markets. The Strait of Hormuz, a strategic chokepoint that typically handles daily transits of roughly 130 oil tankers before the latest conflict outbreak, has seen shipping volumes drop sharply to just 41 transits per day, due to ongoing risks of attacks targeting commercial vessels by Iranian forces.

    Tensions escalated further this week after the U.S. resumed airstrikes on Iranian targets, following attacks on three commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. This resumption of direct military action has amplified policy and market uncertainty across global financial and commodity markets. On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is “over”, just hours before the Pentagon conducted its second consecutive day of airstrikes on Iranian targets.

    These developments have triggered a sharp jump in global crude oil prices: benchmark Brent crude briefly climbed above $79 per barrel, marking an approximately 7% price increase from pre-escalation levels.

    Higher energy prices are already filtering through to push up global inflation, the IMF confirmed. The fund now projects average global inflation will reach 4.7% in 2026, up from 4.1% recorded in 2025, before easing back to 3.9% in 2027.
    Petya Koeva Brooks, head of the IMF’s research department, noted that the global economy is currently being pulled in two opposing directions: by the lingering drag of the energy crisis triggered by Middle East conflict, and by the growth tailwind from a technology-driven investment surge. She emphasized that the current geopolitical environment carries unusually high levels of uncertainty and downside risk for global economic outcomes.
    The IMF’s baseline projections are built on the assumption that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen to full commercial shipping traffic by mid-July, with conditions returning to pre-conflict levels by March 2027. However, the fund stressed that this optimistic baseline remains highly contingent on future political and military developments in the region, with significant room for worse outcomes if conflict expands.
    Looking at regional growth breakdowns, the United States is projected to lead all major advanced economies in 2026 growth, with an expected GDP expansion of 2.3%. By comparison, the Eurozone is forecast to grow by 0.9%, the United Kingdom by 1%, Canada by 1.1%, and Japan by 0.6%. China, the world’s largest emerging market economy, is expected to post robust 4.6% growth in 2026 even amid mounting global geopolitical tensions.

  • Recipients invited to pay for state lands as review nears completion

    Recipients invited to pay for state lands as review nears completion

    As an internal audit of pre-election state land allocations wraps up, a Caribbean government minister is calling on all individuals who received plots ahead of the 2025 general election to contact the national housing authority and formalize their land payments, clarifying that the review process is not designed to seize land from eligible, low-income claimants.

    Andrew John, who serves as the region’s Minister of Land Management as well as Minister of Housing, Urban Development and Informal Settlement Upgrading, told NBC Radio that the review was launched after his New Democratic Party administration won the election to scrutinize roughly 250 parcels of land distributed by the previous Unity Labour Party government just one to two months before polls opened. John emphasized that the audit is focused on rooting out irregularities to ensure fair access to state land, not taking property from people who were rightfully allocated land.

    During the initial review phase, investigators uncovered multiple significant inconsistencies in the last-minute allocation round. The most prominent issue was multiple allocations to a single individual, with some people holding as many as four plots – a direct violation of the government’s longstanding policy that allocates one housing plot per eligible person, prioritizing individuals experiencing housing insecurity. Additional problems include repeat beneficiaries who already hold government land, have not completed payments for their original plots, and still secured new allocations in the pre-election round. The review also found that many allocations went to individuals who already had stable adequate housing, while low-income households with critical housing needs remained on waitlists without land.

    John drew a clear line between legitimate recipients and those who benefited from irregular allocations, rejecting partisan claims that the review is an effort to take land from low-income and vulnerable communities. “This is not a witch hunt,” he stated. The core goal of the process, he explained, is to correct the excesses of the rushed pre-election distribution and put state land into the hands of people who actually need it, ending scenarios where a small number of people accumulate multiple plots while other eligible applicants – including the children of current landowners – cannot secure a single parcel for their own housing.

    With the review nearly complete, the government is moving into an individual case-by-case assessment phase, and John urged all pre-election allocation recipients to engage directly with the Housing and Land Development Corporation (HLDC) instead of relying on unsubstantiated rumors or partisan political commentary. Recipients are invited to meet one-on-one with HLDC officials to confirm their eligibility, and those who meet the requirements are encouraged to begin or resume payments on their allocated plots. For cases confirmed to involve multiple or irregular allocations, the government will make targeted adjustments or reallocations to restore equity.

    Addressing early threats of legal action from lawyers representing some allocation recipients, John noted that every land allocation is formalized by a written contract that clearly outlines payment terms. He added that successive governments have long applied lenient payment policies to support low-income and unemployed beneficiaries, routinely extending payment timelines far beyond the standard 12-month full payment requirement outlined in most contracts, which reflects the government’s commitment to balancing compassion with enforcement.

    John framed the current regularization process as a balanced reset that addresses the rushed, irregular distribution carried out by the previous administration. The broader objective of the effort is to open up fairer access to state land across all income groups and political affiliations, supporting the government’s expanding national housing program that positions the HLDC as a key player in delivering both public and private housing across the country.

  • COMMENTARY: The Citizenship Crossroads

    COMMENTARY: The Citizenship Crossroads

    In late June 2026, a formal request from the European Commission landed on the desks of five Eastern Caribbean governments: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenica, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia. The demand was clear: phase out their long-running Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs by June 1, 2028. Backed by the EU’s revised visa-suspension framework, continued operation of these schemes now qualifies as grounds for reviewing the island nations’ visa-free access to the Schengen Area, making the 2028 deadline non-negotiable. For these small, trade-reliant open economies, the stakes could not be higher.

    While initial framing has painted this as a David-and-Goliath standoff between a powerful European bloc and vulnerable small island states, this narrative overlooks a far more nuanced reality. Both sides hold legitimate, mutually aligned interests in resolving the impasse, and a collaborative negotiated transition remains the most promising path forward.

    ### Why CBI is a Cornerstone of Eastern Caribbean Development
    For the Eastern Caribbean, CBI is far more than a marginal policy or the simple passport-selling scheme it is often caricatured as. It is a foundational pillar of public finance for nations that lack large domestic tax bases, extensive natural resources, and face repeated, intensifying climate shocks.

    St Kitts and Nevis hosts the world’s longest-running CBI program, launched in 1984. Across the five states, CBI contributes between 15% of government revenue (St Lucia) and more than 50% (Dominica and St Kitts and Nevis). In the 2022–2023 fiscal year alone, Dominica drew 37% of its total GDP from CBI revenue, equal to roughly $232 million. These funds have delivered tangible, transformative development across the region: new hospitals and clinics, upgraded road and bridge infrastructure, climate-resilient housing post-hurricane, expanded tourism infrastructure, and Dominica’s new international airport. For St Kitts and Nevis, consistent CBI revenue delivered years of budget surpluses that cut public debt below regional targets. For these small states, CBI has been an engine of both development and climate resilience, a reality any productive negotiation must acknowledge upfront.

    Even so, overreliance on a single externally driven revenue stream carries growing, already visible risks. When global scrutiny tightened and investor demand softened in 2024, St Kitts and Nevis saw CBI revenue plummet, pushing its fiscal deficit to 11% of GDP. Prudent long-term planning has long required these states to diversify away from CBI, a reality regional leaders have increasingly acknowledged.

    ### The EU’s Legitimate Security Concerns
    The European Union’s position is not arbitrary or unfair; it stems from concrete regulatory and security concerns that deserve a fair hearing. Visa-free Schengen access is a valuable shared asset that underpins much of the value of Eastern Caribbean CBI passports, and the EU bears a responsibility to protect the integrity of its visa system.

    Brussels’ concerns are specific: across the five programs, roughly 107,000 passports have been issued to date, with high application volumes and low rejection rates that raise questions about the rigor of due diligence checks. The Financial Action Task Force has repeatedly warned that poorly regulated CBI schemes can be exploited for identity fraud and money laundering. A 2025 ruling by the European Court of Justice further cemented the EU’s legal position, finding that Malta’s similar CBI program violated EU law. While the 2028 timeline remains open to negotiation, the underlying concerns held by EU regulators are reasonable and made in good faith.

    ### Shared Interests That Outweigh Public Rhetoric
    The simplistic Brussels-versus-Caribbean framing obscures a critical truth: on core governance issues, the two sides are far more aligned than headlines suggest. Rigorous due diligence is not merely a European demand—it is directly in the Eastern Caribbean’s own self-interest. Weak vetting and opaque ownership structures that trouble Brussels also erode confidence among international correspondent banks, and lost correspondent banking access is an existential threat the region has already faced. A CBI program held to the highest global standards is not a concession to Europe; it is a defense of the Caribbean’s own financial stability.

    The real disagreement is narrow: it is not whether CBI programs should be well-run—both sides agree they should. It is about the pace of phase-out and how to replace the lost revenue. These are issues for negotiation, not confrontation.

    ### The Region Has Already Taken Unilateral Action to Strengthen Regulation
    The Eastern Caribbean has already made significant progress toward addressing EU concerns, a fact often overlooked in public discourse. In September 2025, after two years of negotiations with the EU, United States, and United Kingdom, the five states signed a 92-article agreement establishing the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (ECCIRA). Headquartered in Grenada (selected for its strong compliance track record) with national offices in each member state, ECCIRA will become fully operational in 2026.

    ECCIRA is no symbolic gesture: it enforces binding, uniform standards across all five programs, including mandatory due diligence, applicant interviews, biometric data collection, genuine residency requirements, shorter passport validity terms, uniform investment minimums, and a centralized shared registry of rejected applicants, agents, and developers. It also has the power to compel audits, impose sanctions, and revoke operating licenses. In short, the Eastern Caribbean has already proactively built most of the regulatory architecture Brussels has demanded. This progress demonstrates that the region is a willing partner that deserves to be met halfway.

    Even so, ECCIRA is a starting point, not a final solution. The authority was designed solely to make existing CBI programs compliant with European and North American standards—but the EU’s June 2026 letter makes clear that even perfectly run programs must be phased out. The EU’s objection is now one of principle, not just regulation. ECCIRA’s greatest achievement is not saving CBI, but proving that the five Eastern Caribbean states can collaborate effectively on critical regional issues, ceding limited sovereignty to a shared regulator for the collective good. This capacity for collective action is the region’s most durable asset, far more valuable than any single revenue stream.

    ### What a Constructive Path Forward Looks Like
    A successful outcome requires two core priorities: first, a managed transition, not an abrupt fiscal cliff. A firm 2028 deadline does not require an immediate hard stop. A phased, negotiated redesign that shifts toward longer-term residency-based investment models aligned with EU security demands, while maintaining an orderly flow of investment during the transition, benefits both sides. The EU protects its visa regime integrity, while the region gains time to adjust its fiscal and economic models.

    Second, and most critically, the region needs support to replace lost CBI revenue. The Caribbean has already laid out an ambitious growth agenda for the next decade: the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank’s (ECCB) “Big Push” strategy targets doubling the regional currency union’s economy by 2031, requiring 7% annual growth, while the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) labels the 2020s a “decade of decision” requiring $65 billion in financing by 2033 to avoid economic stagnation. Abruptly losing CBI revenue—which contributes 5% of the currency union’s total GDP, and 37% of Dominica’s GDP—would derail these plans, eliminating the core capital source for critical infrastructure that underpins long-term growth.

    Regional leaders have already outlined the core of a path forward: CBI revenue generated during the transition can be reinvested to seed economic diversification across priority sectors, including renewable energy, food security, medical tourism, the creative economy, and special economic zones. The existing framework for diversification already includes clear, actionable priorities:
    – Publish annual Diversification Indexes alongside national budgets, tracking shifts in GDP, employment, and revenue across core sectors with five-year targets
    – Establish a regional Regional Medical Excellence Fund, funded by a share of CBI revenue, to build one accredited specialty medical center per state to grow high-margin, climate-resilient medical tourism
    – Require states with high CBI dependence to publish formal fiscal transition plans outlining how revenue losses will be absorbed without unsustainable new debt
    – Negotiate a regional energy partnership with Guyana to replace costly imported fuel oil, the largest structural cost for most Eastern Caribbean economies
    – Launch a regional agricultural credit guarantee facility in partnership with the ECCB and CDB to lower borrowing costs for smallholder farmers
    – Extend the ECCIRA collaborative regulatory model to other sectors including healthcare accreditation, agricultural standards, and digital asset regulation

    ### A Unified Regional Negotiating Strategy Is Key
    To advance these goals, Eastern Caribbean governments should convene a permanent standing panel under the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), drawing representatives from ECCIRA, the ECCB, the CDB, and regional trade negotiators. This panel will carry a unified regional position into direct diplomatic talks with the EU and United States, with a mandate to secure a binding, mutually beneficial agreement.

    Negotiations should proceed on two tracks. First, test at the highest level whether a CBI regime rebuilt to ECCIRA’s strict standards can address the EU’s security concerns. Second, and more importantly, plan for a phase-out by framing the transition as a reciprocal negotiation, not a request for charity. If the EU gains its goal of eliminating CBI to protect Schengen integrity, the region should gain expanded, guaranteed market access for its exports under existing frameworks including the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement and U.S. Caribbean Basin trade preferences.

    Agriculture is the logical starting point for this agreement: Europe can provide long-term guaranteed access for Caribbean agricultural and value-added produce, while the region commits to building the infrastructure—packing facilities, cold chains, port capacity, phytosanitary certification—needed to meet export demand. This shifts revenue from passport fees to earnings from goods and services, creating a more sustainable, dignified foundation for long-term growth that benefits both sides.

    ### A Moment for Regional Unity
    This challenge also offers an unexpected opportunity. For decades, Eastern Caribbean states have competed against one another for CBI investment, fragmenting their negotiating power. ECCIRA has already proven that collective action delivers stronger results. The 2028 deadline is the strongest argument for regional integration the Caribbean has seen in a generation. No single small island can negotiate favorable terms with Brussels or Washington, but a unified Eastern Caribbean has leverage, shared interests, and a legitimate claim to reciprocal partnership.

    This is not a contest between a powerful Europe and a vulnerable Caribbean. It is a shared governance challenge between partners who both want a clean, secure CBI regime and a prosperous Eastern Caribbean. The EU’s commitment to regulatory integrity is legitimate, and the region’s need for time to replace lost revenue is equally legitimate. The 2028 deadline is real, but so is the opportunity to build a more diversified, sustainable regional economy. The Caribbean has navigated far greater challenges, and it will succeed if it negotiates as one, in good faith with its partners, to build a transition that works for everyone.

  • 3 Vincies among 10 people replacing late Queen on EC notes

    3 Vincies among 10 people replacing late Queen on EC notes

    In a landmark step that redefines the regional identity of Eastern Caribbean currency, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) has revealed redesigned banknotes that replace the late Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait with portraits of influential leaders and national heroes drawn from across the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCB)’s eight member states. The announcement, made Thursday, marks the culmination of a years-long process of public engagement and institutional planning that will see the EC dollar enter a new era when the new notes enter circulation.

    Among the 10 prominent regional figures selected for the redesign, three have deep ties to St. Vincent and the Grenadines. These include Robert Milton Cato, the founding first prime minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines; John Compton, the late former prime minister of St. Lucia who was born in St. Vincent and the Grenadines; and Sir K. Dwight Venner, who served as the long-serving governor of the ECCB from 1989 to 2015.

    The redesigned series covers four commonly used denominations: the $5, $20, $50, and $100 EC notes, each pairing two influential figures that represent the region’s diverse history, contributions and collective progress. The highest $100 denomination features Sir William Arthur Lewis, a Nobel Prize-winning economic scientist, alongside the St. Vincent-born John Compton. The $50 note pairs St. Vincent’s Sir K. Dwight Venner with Sir Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw, a beloved leader from Saint Kitts and Nevis. On the $20 note, Sir Vere Cornwall Bird Sr, Antigua and Barbuda’s first prime minister, shares space with Dame Mary Eugenia Charles, Dominica’s former prime minister and the only woman honored in the new series. A $10 note, which was referenced in planning documents, features Montserrat trade union and political leader William Henry Bramble and Anguilla’s founding politician James Ronald Webster. The lowest $5 denomination pairs St. Vincent’s Robert Milton Cato with Kirani James, Grenada’s trailblazing Olympic gold medalist — the only living person included in the new banknote series.

    The path to this historic redesign began in July 2023, when the ECCB’s Monetary Council voted during its 105th meeting to approve the removal of Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait and directed the central bank to gather public input on the new direction. Between July and December 2023, the ECCB carried out extensive public consultations across the eight member states, and the results were clear: residents strongly backed the plan to feature homegrown national heroes and foundational nation builders on the region’s currency.

    ECCB Governor Timothy N.J. Antoine officially unveiled the new designs, framing the moment as a defining milestone in the decades-long history of Eastern Caribbean currency. In an official press statement, the central bank emphasized that the redesign is far more than an aesthetic update. It is a deliberate choice to honor the unique cultural heritage, collective achievements and enduring legacy of the women and men who shaped the modern Eastern Caribbean. At the same time, the ECCB confirmed that the new banknote series will retain the rigorous security features that have preserved the integrity and public trust long associated with the EC dollar.

    The redesigned notes are scheduled to enter general circulation in late 2027, when for the first time since the creation of the EC dollar, the late British monarch’s likeness will no longer appear on the region’s currency. The new series, the bank noted, centers the region’s own shared identity, independent history and trailblazing achievements, cementing the EC dollar’s role as a symbol of Eastern Caribbean self-determination for generations to come.