The Caribbean Investment Summit 2025 (CIS25), held from April 22 to 26 at the American University of Antigua Conference Centre, was more than just another industry gathering—it marked a strategic turning point for the Caribbean’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) landscape.
With growing international scrutiny, increasing competition from emerging citizenship programmes, and internal calls for more efficiency, CIS25 brought together the region’s key players to chart a unified path forward. Representing Saint Lucia, McNamara Citizenship Services played an active role in discussions that could shape the next chapter of investment migration across the Caribbean.
High-Level Participation and a Focused Agenda
One of the summit’s most notable achievements was the presence of four out of five Caribbean Prime Ministers whose countries offer CBI programmes. Their unified attendance sent a powerful signal: the region is serious about reform, collaboration, and protecting the long-term integrity of its offerings.
Key topics of discussion included:
- Developing unified regional standards across all Caribbean CBI programmes
- Reinforcing robust due diligence procedures to maintain global credibility
- Mitigating external threats, such as blacklisting and regulatory pressure from international organisations
- Exploring ways to streamline and enhance application processing
The need for more harmonisation and collaboration was a central theme. Caribbean governments acknowledged that inconsistent procedures, reputational challenges, and varying processing timelines risk diluting the region’s collective value proposition.
McNamara Citizenship Services: A Voice for Saint Lucia
As an authorised agent under the Saint Lucia Citizenship by Investment Programme, McNamara Citizenship Services brought valuable perspective to the discussions—particularly around client expectations, legal compliance, and the evolving demands of high-net-worth investors.
Their participation underscored Saint Lucia’s commitment to staying aligned with regional standards while continuing to attract discerning applicants through transparency, integrity, and efficient service. McNamara’s involvement reinforced its role as not just a service provider, but a strategic stakeholder in shaping the Caribbean CBI industry.
The Call for Faster Processing: A Strategic Advantage
Among the various topics raised, one point echoed loudly from both government and industry representatives: the need to accelerate processing times.
In today’s competitive landscape, speed is no longer just a convenience—it’s a key differentiator. With other global CBI programmes experiencing processing delays of six months or more, Caribbean programmes that can offer a clear, fast timeline will gain a significant marketing edge.
In our view, processing speed is one of the most underutilised promotional tools in the CBI industry. Investors today are not just shopping for passports—they’re shopping for reliability, responsiveness, and results. If Caribbean nations can commit to consistent processing within 60 to 90 days, they will significantly enhance their competitive advantage.
Looking Forward: A Unified Caribbean Vision
CIS25 concluded with renewed momentum for building a collaborative and future-focused CBI framework. Stakeholders agreed on the importance of:
- Regular regional engagement
- Shared due diligence intelligence
- Greater transparency across all programmes
- Investment options that support national development without compromising integrity
For agents, advisors, and applicants alike, the summit provided reassurance that the Caribbean remains committed to evolving, not retreating.
A Strategic Turning Point
CIS25 was not just a summit—it was a declaration. The Caribbean has recognised the need for reform, unity, and action in order to protect and grow the CBI industry. For Saint Lucia and firms like McNamara Citizenship Services, the summit served as a valuable opportunity to collaborate, contribute, and prepare for a smarter, faster, and more resilient future in investment migration.
