标签： Dominica

In a landmark move, the heads of government from the Eastern Caribbean States participating in Citizenship Investment Programs (CIP) have signed a comprehensive regulatory agreement. This agreement aims to enhance the integrity, transparency, and sustainability of their Citizenship by Investment (CIP) initiatives. The agreement establishes a regional supervisory authority to oversee and standardize CIP operations across five member nations: the Commonwealth of Dominica, Antigua & Barbuda, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, and St. Lucia.

The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) reported that this initiative results from extensive regional and international consultations involving key stakeholders from the CIP industry and global partners such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Commission. Over the past two years, these nations have engaged in dialogues to reaffirm the importance of CIP revenues in supporting the economic stability of small island economies.

Core elements of the reform include the creation of the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (ECCIRA) by October 2025, which will centralize supervision of all CIP activities. The reforms also introduce mandatory biometric data collection for new applicants and stricter residency criteria. Enhanced vetting processes will be supported by the CARICOM IMPACS Joint Regional Communications Centre (JRCC), with expanded personnel and technological capabilities financed through CIP revenues.

Transparency and responsibility will be bolstered through binding standards for national CBI/CIP units and licensed agents, annual compliance reports, and regional registers to track applicants and licensees. Enforcement measures include administrative fines and penalties for non-compliant entities, with potential license revocation for severe breaches.

A minimum investment threshold of US$200,000 has been established to maintain the credibility of CIP programs and ensure funding for infrastructure projects, climate resilience initiatives, and social development programs. The reform process has been driven by international dialogues, including US-Caribbean Roundtables and engagements with the UK, US, and European Commission.

International partners have recognized that dismantling CIP programs would severely impact small island developing states, which rely on these revenues for fiscal stability, climate resilience, and pandemic recovery. The involved governments are committed to ensuring their CIP initiatives meet the highest global standards of transparency and accountability. ‘These reforms demonstrate their commitment to safeguarding global security while preserving a legitimate development tool essential for their nations’ survival and prosperity,’ concluded the OECS release.

The Office of the President of the Commonwealth of Dominica has announced that Her Excellency Sylvanie Burton, DAH., will be honored with the Global Inspirational Leadership Award and inducted into the Global Power Women Network. The prestigious recognition will be conferred on September 25, 2025, during the Global Power Women’s Conference in New York City. This accolade celebrates President Burton’s exceptional leadership, steadfast dedication to gender equality, and her visionary policies that empower communities and foster global progress, as stated in an official government press release. The award underscores her innovative approach to policy-making, which aligns with the conference’s theme, “The Power Shift: Women Reimagining Leadership, Legacy and Global Prosperity.” President Burton’s induction into the network will follow her keynote speech at the event, attended by global leaders, innovators, and trailblazers. The annual Global Power Women’s Conference, organized by the Centre for Economic and Leadership Development (CELD) UK and Amazons Watch Magazine (AWM), aims to amplify women’s voices in leadership, foster cross-sector collaboration, and strategize for sustainable global growth. The initiative originated from the 2023 Global Power Women Conference held at the New York Hilton Midtown.

Barbados’ Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Nutrition Security, Indar Weir, has highlighted the critical challenges facing the agricultural sector across the Americas. Speaking in a recent press release, Weir emphasized the indispensable role of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) in addressing these issues. He expressed strong support for Guyana’s Muhammad Ibrahim as the ideal candidate to lead IICA in its mission to enhance food security, environmental sustainability, and rural development across the region.

Weir underscored the importance of IICA’s technical support in improving natural resource protection and facilitating access to innovative technologies—areas where many nations in the Americas require assistance. He stated, ‘Cooperation is essential to continue our path of improvement; for some of our countries, it is the only way out.’ Weir’s endorsement of Ibrahim, a seasoned scientist with over three decades of experience in international agriculture, reflects confidence in his vision and leadership capabilities.

Ibrahim’s candidacy for the Director General position, proposed by Guyanese President Mohammed Irfaan Ali, has garnered unanimous support from the 14 member countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Weir noted that Ibrahim’s extensive technical expertise and leadership skills set him apart from other contenders, including Fernando Mattos from Uruguay and Laura Suazo from Honduras. The final decision will be made during the Inter-American Board of Agriculture (IABA) sessions in Brazil from November 3 to 5.

In his article titled ‘It Is the Time for Agriculture; It Is the Time of the Caribbean,’ Weir outlined the pressing needs of the continent’s agricultural sector, including improved production efficiency, conservation efforts, pest control, and sustainable livestock practices. He emphasized IICA’s pivotal role in fostering consensus on strategic agricultural issues and expressed optimism that Ibrahim’s leadership would advance the institute’s mission of promoting agricultural progress and rural prosperity across the Americas.