The first draft of the Bill to establish a Regional Regulator for Caribbean Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programmes has been reviewed by the attorneys general and Chief Parliamentary Counsel of the five OECS Member States which operate CBI Programmes. The discussions took place during the Seventh Meeting of ECCU Attorneys General and Chief Parliamentary Counsel, held in Anguilla from May 7–9, 2025.
This follows extensive regional collaboration among the Five Eastern Caribbean CBI states under 2024 Memorandum of Agreement to harmonise, regulate, and strengthen regional CBI operations through a unified legal and institutional framework.
The draft Bill, prepared by Legal Drafting Consultant, Lydia Elliott, was presented to the legal and regulatory leadership of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) for scrutiny, feedback, and refinement. The enabling legislation, once enacted across participating Member States, will formally establish the regional regulator as a separate legal entity to oversee compliance, transparency, and integrity in the CBI industry in accordance with international best practices.
The Legislation will establish the regional regulator as a separate legal entity to oversee compliance, transparency, and integrity in the CBI industry
The Regional Regulator will be responsible for matters such as issuing regional CBI policies, licensing agents/marketers, approving due-diligence frameworks, auditing national CBI Units, maintaining a public register of licensees, and deterring deceptive practices.
The Interim Regulatory Commission led public consultations in the five Member States, which involved input from the Governments, opposition political parties, civil society stakeholders and the general public.
CBI remains a legitimate and respected tool for national development
-Attorney General Wilkin
The CBI remains a legitimate and respected tool for national development, responsive to both domestic needs and international expectations. The region-wide effort to regulate, monitor, and modernise this vital economic pillar sends a clear signal – the Caribbean is serious about transparency, accountability, and long-term resilience of its CBI programmes.
