NDP Administration to introduce CBI programme in 2026

Prime Minister, Dr. Godwin Friday, has made it clear that his New Democratic Party (NDP) administration will be introducing a Citizenship by Investment (CIP) programme in 2026.

He said on HOT97 FM Radio’s AM Mayhem programme on Tuesday, December, 23 2025 that the CBI is a critical economic pillar for the future of the country because St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), has reached a point where it “can’t borrow much more”.

Therefore, in order to generate new revenue streams, Dr. Friday argued that a CBI programme would enable his government to plan for the future. He noted that SVG has an advantage introducing the programme at this time as it can seek to avoid the pitfalls of countries in the region that have similar programmes.

e did not indicate whether the new administration had begun to lay the ground work for its introduction.

The US and UK governments have frowned upon such programmes on grounds of security, money laundering, and illicit finance risk; and the US is using its visa programme as leverage against countries in the region with CBI programmes.

The NDP, during the campaign for the November, 2025 general elections, promised to introduce a CBI programme once it was elected to office.