Kenny Green: Dominica's CBI programme has delivered major benefits to the country

Local businessman and former president of the Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce (DAIC), Kenny Green, has strongly defended Dominica's Citizenship by Investment Programme, arguing that it has played a central role in the country's recovery from Hurricane Maria and continues to finance transformative national projects. Green made the comments while speaking during a special program on DBS Radio with Journalist Daryl Titre, dubbed 'CBI Then, Now, The Future, A Look at the Industry', held recently. Green said the CBI Program helped the Government maintain economic activity after the Category 5 hurricane devastated Dominica in September 2017, destroying businesses, homes and critical infrastructure. Reflecting on his time as DAIC president after the disaster, Green said the private sector had been 'decimated' and largely depended on continued spending by public-sector workers to recover. 'The reason why the private sector came back to the fore is that public-sector employees were getting paid their salaries, even if they had no function to perform in a decimated economy,' Green stated. He explained that, although many government employees were unable to work normally, the continued payment of salaries gave families the ability to purchase essential goods and services. 'Within six months, people were still getting salaries, even though many of them were at home, and they were able to function and consume. That is what brought the private sector back. People forget that,' he emphasized. Green argued that the Government's ability to sustain the population, particularly public officers who represent a significant section of the country's consumer base, helped businesses reopen and supported Dominica's wider economic recovery. He said the availability of CBI revenue has also given Dominica greater financial independence and the ability to respond to difficult circumstances without depending entirely on loans. 'The advantage we've had is that we've not had to incur debt in order to raise the capital for them,' Green said, referring to major development projects being pursued across the country. Dominica's CBI Program, established in 1993, allows qualified foreign investors to obtain citizenship by contributing to the Economic Diversification Fund or investing in government-approved real estate. Applicants are required to undergo security and due diligence checks. Successive governments have credited the programme with financing climate-resilient housing, hotel development, healthcare, education and other public infrastructure. Green pointed specifically to investments in housing, sports, geothermal energy, tourism development and the international airport as evidence of the programme's value. Meanwhile, he noted that the cable-car development is nearing completion, while the proposed marina is expected to advance further next year. However, he identified the international airport as the project that could ultimately define the programme's long-term success. 'The real project, what will deem our CBI a perennial success—will be the completion of the airport,' Green stated. He believes Dominica can present a particularly strong case for retaining its programme because of the visible investments made with CBI revenue. 'Compared to other countries in the OECS, it looks like Dominica's use of its CBI has been of major benefit to its people,' Green said. He clarified that this did not mean other countries had failed to benefit from their programmes, but maintained that Dominica could point to an extensive portfolio of nationally significant projects. 'In terms of the housing component, investment in sports, geothermal, now the international airport and hotel development, would that not be an attractive thing to say, 'Look, this is what this thing has been doing for us'?' he asked. Green's comments come as Dominica and four other Eastern Caribbean countries face growing pressure from the European Union over their investment-migration programmes. The European Commission has reportedly asked Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia to phase out their programmes by June 2028 or potentially risk losing visa-free access to the Schengen Area. The EU has raised concerns about security, applicant screening and the absence of what it considers a 'genuine link' between successful applicants and the countries granting citizenship. Caribbean governments have responded by strengthening due-diligence requirements and increasing regional cooperation. Green said governments may eventually be confronted with a difficult policy decision: discontinue their CBI programmes or continue operating them while risking visa-free Schengen access. He also referred to a decision expected in December. Though reports indicate that the European Commission's next assessment under its Visa Suspension Mechanism is expected in December 2026, this is not an announced automatic termination of Schengen access. Despite the external pressure, Green suggested that the region must strongly present evidence of the programmes' development impact while continuing to improve due diligence and programme integrity. For Dominica, he argued, CBI has been more than a source of government revenue. It has provided economic stability during crises, supported families and businesses, and allowed the country to pursue projects that may otherwise have required substantial borrowing. No Caribbean CBI programme has yet been closed under the reported European proposal, and visa-free Schengen access remains in place.