The Citizenship by Investment Summit (CIS25) in Antigua and Barbuda kicked off with a powerful message from Grammy Award-winning musician and philanthropist Wyclef Jean. In a keynote address that was equal parts inspiring and urgent, Jean challenged Caribbean leaders to invest boldly in their youth, technology, and collective potential.
“We have to be inside the conversation,” he urged, calling for strategic regional cooperation and innovation in emerging sectors like technology and agriculture. Drawing attention to the stark contrast in tech investment between the Caribbean and Latin America, Jean emphasized that the region’s talent is not in question—its support systems are. His rallying cry: that unity, infrastructure, and opportunity can empower the next generation to lead Caribbean progress.
The highlight of his speech? A moving story about Haitian students who, despite limited resources, developed an innovative protein solution and qualified for an international robotics competition—an example of what becomes possible when young people are given room to thrive.
For Citizens International, the setting of this year’s summit made the experience even more meaningful. With the event hosted on our home island of Antigua, our team had the opportunity to attend alongside our sister company, Elmsbridge, and take part in a week of connection, collaboration, and future-focused dialogue.\
We welcomed delegates to The Gardens, one of Antigua’s CIP-approved real estate developments where Elmsbridge holds exclusive access. As part of the Southern Properties Tour on Wednesday morning, attendees explored Villa 118 —a private oasis just moments from the beach that is owned by CIP clients and available for short term rentals.
That evening, the official welcome cocktail reception at Hodges Bay Resort offered an unforgettable networking backdrop, pairing modern elegance with Caribbean warmth. It set the tone for the days to come: a celebration of regional excellence and cooperation.
Thursday’s conference at the American University of Antigua opened with remarks from Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who outlined the economic importance of Antigua and Barbuda’s citizenship program. He highlighted that roughly 10% of the country’s annual gross income—approximately $100M XCD—is driven by CBI, funding vital social initiatives and giving the government greater fiscal flexibility. Leaders from St. Lucia, St. Kitts, and beyond echoed these sentiments, sharing how citizenship programs have been instrumental in post-COVID recovery, infrastructure investment, and the creation of sovereign wealth funds.
Throughout the summit, transparency and regulation were recurring themes. A consensus emerged that the conversation around processing times should shift from “fast” to “efficient,” with several leaders emphasizing the importance of clean file submissions, realistic client expectations, and consistent communication from CIUs. Antigua’s Charmaine Donovan reaffirmed the country’s commitment to integrity in due diligence while also signaling a move toward fully digital submissions and AI-enhanced processing.
On Friday, the closing sessions culminated with Wyclef Jean’s impassioned address and a lively cocktail reception—an energizing end to a summit that felt like a true coming-together of stakeholders shaping the future of investment migration in the Caribbean.
CIS25 underscored what we’ve long believed at Citizens International: the Caribbean has both the potential and the people to lead globally in investment migration. We’re proud to have been part of this year’s summit in Antigua and look forward to playing our part in the region’s continued evolution.
Please do not hesitate to set up a free consultation with our team to learn about the power of second citizenship.
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