On 1 October 2024, the newly restructured Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) officially launches its operations as a statutory body. This follows a successful recruitment round, which saw the highest number of applicants in recent history. Under the leadership of Chairman Mr. Calvin St. Juste, the revitalised approach to the CIU signifies a major shift toward better governance, accountability, and effective leadership.
Upcoming Investment Gateway Summit
Alongside this exciting transformation, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis is pleased to announce the dates for the 2025 St. Kitts and Nevis Investment Gateway Summit, scheduled for 31 May to 3 June 2025.
Enhancing Credibility and Trust
The CIU’s changes aim to create a more inclusive and sustainable investment landscape, enhancing the Unit’s credibility and fostering trust among investors and the community. This commitment to excellence was recently highlighted by St. Kitts and Nevis’ top ranking in the 2024 CBI Index.
Positive Feedback and Confidence
Recent stakeholder and partner meetings have yielded overwhelmingly positive feedback, reflecting strong confidence in the CIU’s direction as it maintains its market-leading position in the investor migration industry.
Statutory Body Reorganisation
The Citizenship by Investment Unit Act of 2024 led to a reorganisation of the CIU, with the Board of Governors appointed on 26 July 2024. Transitioning from a government department to a statutory body enhances the Unit’s authority and professionalism.
Streamlined Processes
The transformative changes aim to speed up application processing times and streamline the CBI process, making it more efficient for all involved.
Regional Leadership in CBI
St. Kitts and Nevis continues to lead in the Caribbean, pushing for regional integration of CBI programmes. Notably, the Federation has spearheaded changes resulting in a landmark Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) among the five Caribbean CBI countries.
Guiding Principles for the Future
As the CIU embarks on this new journey, it will be guided by six principles for effective governance and leadership:
- Transparency: Decision-making processes and actions will be clear and open, fostering trust among our citizens and stakeholders.
- Communication: Clear and consistent communication will be critical to promote understanding and engagement, allowing for informed participation in governance.
- Good Governance: The CIU will uphold accountability and fairness, ensuring that the public interest continues to be served effectively and justly.
- Transformation: The CIU will embrace change and innovation to adapt to emerging challenges and opportunities in the market and across the globe.
- Global Leadership: The CIU will lead by example in addressing global issues, while reaffirming its well-earned reputation for industry excellence.
- Sustainability: Economic growth will be balanced with social responsibility, ensuring that investment initiatives benefit both investors and the local community. Sustainable growth will foster long-term prosperity.
To deliver on these principles, and ensure the CIU’s ongoing success, recruitment efforts were focused on attracting a team dedicated to three core values: consistently high performance, excellent customer service, and professionalism.
These values are underscored by a commitment to serving the interests of the citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis while strengthening relationships with stakeholders locally and internationally.
Coupled with the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, the state of St. Kitts and Nevis’ CBI programme has never been stronger – and the progress towards a Sustainable Island State continues.
