Antigua & Barbuda Establishes Committee to Review Regional CBI Reform Bill

Antigua & Barbuda has formed a parliamentary select committee to review the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (Agreement) Bill, 2025, a landmark piece of legislation aimed at harmonizing Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs across the OECS.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who introduced the bill and will chair the committee, emphasized that the legislation follows a decade of regional and international consultations with key partners. The bill passed its first and second readings in Parliament this week.

The proposed framework establishes a centralized regulatory authority to oversee CBI programs in Antigua & Barbuda, St. Lucia, Grenada, Dominica, and St. Kitts & Nevis. Key reforms include mandatory biometric data collection, enhanced due diligence supported by funding to IMPACS, and a residency requirement—currently unique to Antigua.

The initiative marks a major step toward regional alignment, with all five OECS CBI nations expected to enact the legislation by October 2025. The select committee, which includes Attorney General Steadroy Benjamin and Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle, will scrutinize the bill before final passage.

The move underscores Antigua’s commitment to transparency, security, and sustainable economic development through responsible investment.