Nevis Premier Mark Brantley says Prime Minister Gaston Browne should not be left to confront the European Union alone over its demand that Eastern Caribbean countries end their Citizenship by Investment programmes.
Brantley said Antigua and Barbuda needs the backing of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States and the Caribbean Community, arguing that the threatened loss of CBI revenue represents a regional economic crisis requiring a coordinated response.
“I, for example, do not believe that Prime Minister Gaston Browne should be speaking for Antigua and Barbuda by himself,” Brantley said during an interview on the Caribbean Business Review.
“I feel that what we should see is the OECS having a position in relation to this. What we should see is CARICOM saying, ‘Hey, EU, this represents an existential threat to some of our members, and we need to talk about it.’”
Five Eastern Caribbean countries — Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia — operate programmes through which qualifying foreign investors can obtain citizenship.
During the interview, host Joseph Cox said the EU wrote to the five countries on June 25 and gave them a June 1, 2028, deadline to discontinue the programmes.
Browne has publicly opposed the demand and said Antigua and Barbuda will not close its programme without proposals for replacing the revenue the country would lose.
Brantley said he agreed with Browne’s position but argued that Antigua and Barbuda would have greater negotiating power if the OECS and CARICOM adopted a common stance.
“And in the case of Antigua and Barbuda, we’ve heard PM Gaston Browne, who has come out quite forcefully, to say to the EU that Antigua will not discontinue its program, absent some indication from the EU as to how they would substitute or assist Antigua to substitute for that foregone revenue,” Brantley said.
“St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Dominica, and Grenada have, for their part, been relatively silent on this matter.”
Brantley described the possible loss of CBI revenue as more than a strategic risk to the affected countries.
“You say that it represents some strategic threat. I would say it goes further,” he said. “I think it’s an existential threat to the economies of the Eastern Caribbean.”
Brantley said the five countries depend on citizenship revenue to varying degrees and would face the challenge of finding alternative income if the programmes are discontinued.
“When we look at St. Lucia, we look at Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, and St. Kitts and Nevis, we see varying degrees of dependence, but in every country there is a high degree of dependence on citizenship-by-investment inflows,” he said.
“And we have, in my humble opinion, a crisis on our hands because the question then would be, what do we do to substitute for that loss of revenue?”
Brantley also criticised the apparent absence of the dispute from the recent CARICOM Heads of Government meeting.
“For me, for this not to have been on the agenda, not to have taken up time at the heads meeting is a matter of concern, absolutely a matter of concern,” he said.
He argued that CARICOM should respond collectively when the economic stability of its members is threatened, pointing to the regional support provided to Guyana amid Venezuela’s territorial claim.
Brantley said small Caribbean states possess limited influence when negotiating separately with larger international powers.
“We have the flag and the anthem and the accoutrement, if you will, of independence,” he said. “We have the things that we look to to say that we are sovereign nations. We have a voice at the United Nations. But we must understand that there are practical limitations to that.”
“In global affairs, we are small countries. And Mother Nature, I think, suggests to us that when you’re small, you band together. And that has always been my view.”
Brantley said the region already has institutions capable of developing and advancing a unified diplomatic position.
“You know, a great white shark may swim alone, but, you know, if you have minnows that swim together, their chances of survival are enhanced when they do that,” he said.
“My concern is, Joseph, that we have the institutions, you know, we have the infrastructure that could allow us to have a single voice.”
Brantley said the OECS countries should seek additional time from the EU while accelerating efforts to reduce their economic dependence on CBI proceeds.
“I think five years is far more reasonable than two years,” he said.
He also called for a change in how CBI income is used during the transition.
“I feel that the OECS countries must move to a different model of citizenship by investment where we are now looking at value added as opposed to simply talking about new entrants into these programs,” Brantley said.
He identified renewable energy as one sector that could help Eastern Caribbean countries diversify their economies and reduce their vulnerability to international shocks.
“I do think we need to accelerate our renewable energy thrust,” he said. “I do think we need to start to reorient our economies and allow economies to be insulated from some of these conflicts that we see around the world.”
Brantley pointed to Nevis’ geothermal potential and said the island could eventually supply electricity to neighbouring territories, including Antigua and Barbuda.
“You can imagine, if Nevis had accessed its geothermal, vast geothermal potential, if we were supplying St. Kitts, if we were supplying some of our neighboring islands like Antigua, which has said that they want power from us, that we would have a different perspective insofar as what’s happening in the Strait of Hormuz, or what’s happening in Iran, or what happens in Venezuela, because we would not be as dependent on fossil fuel for our electricity generation,” he said.
Brantley also urged regional governments to draw more heavily on the Caribbean diaspora for investment, expertise and business development.
“We need to start to think outside the box, Joseph,” he said. “We need people like yourself and others who have ideas that we come forward.”
He warned that the international environment is becoming increasingly difficult for small states and said Caribbean countries must take responsibility for building more resilient economies.
“Nobody’s coming to save the Caribbean,” Brantley said. “We have to save ourselves.”
He concluded that declarations of individual sovereignty would not provide the negotiating strength Caribbean governments need when dealing with larger powers.
“A collective approach is a far better approach, particularly when we’re dealing with the middle and large powers,” he said.
“So we need to engage as a group. I started by saying that, I end by saying that, that our leverage is much, much better when we engage together.”
Brantley again criticised the failure to address the CBI dispute at the CARICOM meeting and called for regional leaders to correct the omission.
“And I do regret sincerely that this issue about CBI was not on the CARICOM agenda,” he said. “I think that that’s a failure, and I’m hopeful that it can be corrected at the next go-round.”
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The EU, the US, and Canada has asked this GB administration to tighten the security measures of the CBI. the 30 day residency requirement is a joke.
We just didn’t get here..terms were asked for, and instead of strengthen the security surrounding the program, GB failed to see the serious threat this program pose to these countries.. it’s not about the program itself, it’s a good program, it’s the loopholes that are imbedded inside it.
Yes every country do business with outsiders one way or the other, that’s not the point, it’s the cracks that are in each system that really powerful criminals will exploit.
Just study the 9/11 case and how it was carried out, and you will see the concerns here. We all know rich people can buy their way into anything, and when you have real criminals with bad intentions, then now you see the risk here.
We look at petty thief in the Caribbean as big crimes, well these nations are looking at those who hates them, with terrorism. If you know anything about intelligence gathering (which these small island people have no understanding of) then you can certainly see the big picture here.
This is not about racism you idiots .the US, EU, Canada, ain’t trying to stop your little petty Hustlers on the corners of ST Johns, they have bigger fish to fry.
Look at it from that standpoint and stop playing the bloody victim.
Terrorist do not care about color, they care about their objectives, and that’s to hurt their enemies without impunity.
I keep telling you guys..someone big slipped through the cracks..Skeritt knows it, and GB knows it. While you politicians are running around bribing are few people for votes, these people are plotting to take down a country, a entire damn country.
Look at the Ramiz Yusef case or any terrorist group, and you will see what these countries are dealing with.
It will make your body cringe when you realize the hate and terror that’s out there in this world.
The EU threat to revoke visa free travel is not the thing that will force Gaston to end the CIP. The US refusal to allow Antiguans to apply for US visitor visas will cause Gaston to end CIP. That is the real hammer.
@ Islanman26
Every concession that was asked for beforehand was met, but it was always a piece of string that eventually would’ve ended. It would never have been enough. Who are they to tell/dictate/DEMAND ANY Sovereign country how they should earn revenue and run their affairs? Right now they are already dictating where to go, when to go, how to go, what revenue streams to have, and we are like puppy dogs just running behind them. Online gaming was taken away, offshore banking was taken away, and now it’s CIP’s turn. What? Are we to only have hotels so we can always stay as servants and slaves?
The 911 hijackers were not even US passport holders. They entered the United States using their own foreign passports and valid U.S. visas. It was the US immigration folks that allowed them in despite there being warning signs. As a matter of fact, some of the same terrorists were trained in US flight schools. So the world was made to pay for the US’s own mistakes.
If “someone” big slipped through the cracks, then all they have to do is ban that person if they are so concerned. Each person is vetted before they come into ANY country. Every immigration department knows who is arriving before they even arrive. You stand in front of an immigration officer for the most part. It’s not like you jump on a plane, go to a country, and just walk off the plane and go freely in.
Would it be different if the same people who apply for CIP were to come to Antigua, gain residency etc., and have children born in Antigua? They will get the same passport. What will the US, Canada, and Europe say then?
If they are sooooo concerned about CIP passports, then say that all CIP passport holders are banned, BUT they are not targeting that, they are targeting the source of revenue that it brings in.
We all want Gaston to end CIP.
Want to hear the funny part now?
When CIP is ended, the same people will say “I want to see who they are going to earn revenue now”.
The political folks will be happy when CIP ends because they want to see “Gaston” fail, but,
We don’t want CIP
We don’t want to pay more taxes
We want services
Any suggestions on how we get around all these and not pay more taxes to fund government services?
Any suggestions?
Here the Gaston HATERS are going at it again. This was a Caribbean wide request or perhaps not a request but a demand, yet these haters only see Gaston Browne in it. This government has been working closely with the European delegation and went to Parliament to pass laws and address their concern. But the spin doctors will tell you that we didn’t. Opening a bank account in Antigua is such a tedious process all because of the demand of the USA and the EU. But in their own countries you can open a bank account in fifteen minutes or less.
The USA has killed our Offshore Gaming said we were encouraging money laundering. We took them to the WTO and won our case. The Only Small Caribbean Island that was so BOLD to do that. And the USA has up until this day not paid us a cent of what the judgement compelled them to do. And in all that Antigua and Barbuda has time and time again called on to the USA at the UN General Assembly to settle the matter. Our Prime Minister is a person that has the balls, the guts to stand up for this country. But those political haters would blame him for doing that. He should be a coward and sell us out. Two Caribbean Countries has been banned by the USA without indicating exactly the reason for the ban. Yet in Antigua the haters can tell you exactly why. It’s all Gaston’s fault. You know in Barbados Mia Mottley challenged the USA and said if it will mean that she will not be able to travel to the USA she won’t mind. She called the entire Caribbean to stand on PRINCIPLES.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFcgdPaSE0s
Thank God the Barbadians stand behind their Prime Minister. Not Antiguans.
Gaston and Mia are great examples of Great Caribbean Leader that do not fear to stand uip against anyone as long as it is on principles. We saw Mia Mottleys reaction to the UK Parliamentarian on the issue of Reparation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu0XG2JVebA
I can see the spirit of those who sold out King Cort and tghe Spirit of Judas in these Gaston Haters. They will sell out their country just to get Visa access from the USA. And let me tell you getting a Visa is not a right. America still deserve the right to deny you or even revoke your visa when they want to, without giving any reasons. The Haitians are now crying foul, because the Trump administration has revoked their protected status. Hundreds of Thousands of them are now risking deportation. I wish them luck hiding from ICE.
@Rev.
At the end of the day, these countries have opposing dialogues when it comes to the CIP, and we get that, so it is still up to GB to keep the CIP.
No one has a gun to his head, it’s ultimately his decision to disband it or not..But what you can’t do, is sit here trying to make an argument trying castigate another country for protecting it’s own boarders.
What I’ve said a merit, and what you have said have merits
@Revenue July 29, 2026 At 9:20 am & Any suggestions? July 29, 2026 At 9:26 am
You guys are right on point. I have written a very long comment and I’m still waiting to see when it will be published. These so called concerned citizens are nothing but political hacks. They rather see the country suffer under the Gaston Browne administration so they believe that would increase their changes to take power. But what will they do then to get money into the Treasury? Tax the hell out of us. And just like the period 2004 through 2014 we will be in an IMF program and austerity measures will be put in place and they will call it the second NEST plan. Public Servants will be the first to feel it. That is the only thing I personally won’t mind when that happens. Because the Public Wage Bill is Unsustainable. But no one has the guts to do something about it. There used to be a time when Public Servants were under paid, but not now. Their pay is almost the same as that of the private sector and they have many more benefits. The contribute less to Social Security and Medical Benefit, they have two pensions when they retire. So they are better off then pensioners in the private sector. They have more sick days and more vacation days. But yet no one is measuring their performance. Do they give a fair days work for a fair days pay. With out investigating this I can boldly tell you “Hell NO”. Only 40% is doing the work while the other 60% is just liming on the job or just somewhere else moonlighting. but lets stick to the topic at hand. Our Prime Minister is beside Mia Mottley the only leader that is openly standing up against the USA on principles. The day will come when they will tell us whom our friends should be. As Bob Marley said in a song, “And when you’re gonna get some food, your brother got to be your ENEMY”. AMBUSH in the Night.
I’ve said all along, that all Gaston ‘Never He Fault’ Browne had to do 12-18 months ago, was to tweak or amend the CBI/CIP program, then Antigua wouldn’t be in such a mess with it today. Fact!
Diehard Gastonites like @Less We Forget, will never admit that there were some major misgivings with it at that time; especially when those that received their citizenship were not spending enough time living here or concluding their business start-ups as promised.
But hey, @Less We Forget, don’t let the FACTS get in the way of Prime Minister Browne’s administration not doing their due diligence on CBI/CIP.
Joker, go wash Gaston’s 🥸feet you dullard
So why was the call from the EU for all the Caribbean Islands that have CBI programs. It was not for Antigua and Barbuda alone. That is the nonsense you guys like to spew. It always Gaston fault when it comes to Antigua and Barbuda. I wonder what they say in St. Kitts and Nevis that has the program for decades. It never bothered the EU then.
But the thing is before Guyana had found oil they were not welcome in Europe or England. But the minute they found Oil, oh Guyanese were giving six month free stay in England. No Visa needed.
What most of you have failed to recognize is why would someone be willing to give the government $100,000 in order to become a citizen of a country that they only lived in for 30 days? The reality is that there are some countries who’s citizens are basically banned from entering western countries. The CIP is a way for them to circumvent those restrictions. It is so bad that Dominica used to allow people to get the CIP is different names to their original name.
What Mr Grantley said in the article about alternative forms of revenue such as selling geothermal energy is quite valid and a path that the Caribbean should be taking instead of these get rich quick schemes.
And finally no amount of money will ever be enough if the government continues to waste money on non productive expenses. The bloated public service, party hacks on statutory boards, inflated contracts to incompetent contractors etc are many of the ways the governments squander the revenue that they collect. Until all those issues are fixed then we are not going anywhere.
@Less.
Right or wrong, but we all know that GB has heavily sided with China..it is his right, but don’t think for one bit that it has gone unnoticed by the EU and the US.
Don’t sit there and act stupid..the man has picked his side, yes to the detriment of the nation at large, but non the less, he has sided with China over these countries..it’s in his rhetoric going back years now, which showed up blatantly in the Maduro/Venezuela incident.
And since it seems that he’s the voice of these other islands with the CBI, always running his mouth and defending it, then everyone was painted with a board brush. Words matter sir, and actions certainly do. So wake up.
Follow the sequence of things sir, trust me, you are not this gullible.
We can plan a good future for our nation with CIP. The first thing is stop the greed by politicians and civil servants. Secondly to tighten all the wasteful spending and cronyism.
Then to develop our agriculture industry, provide the farming community the type of infrastructure that will all them to produce and be able to sell to the cruise industry. This means we need better linkages between agriculture and the tourism industry- cruise ships, local restaurants, hotels, supermarkets. Also low interest rate and easier access to low interest financing to the agriculture sector.