USVI Wields $24B Rebuild to Pressure Caribbean 'Golden Passport' Nations

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands – November 25, 2025 – The U.S. Virgin Islands is leveraging its historic, federally funded reconstruction to draw a new line in the sand for its Caribbean neighbors, proposing preferential U.S. labor access for nations that reject controversial ‘citizenship by investment’ (CBI) programs. The move, championed by USVI Governor Albert Bryan Jr., links the territory's critical labor crisis to Washington's growing national security concerns over so-called 'golden passports'.

Faced with a massive $24 billion infrastructure overhaul and a record-low unemployment rate, Governor Bryan is advocating for the U.S. to grant visa-free access to workers from specific Caribbean countries that have refrained from selling citizenship. This policy would directly benefit nations like Barbados and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, while effectively excluding neighbors such as St. Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, and St. Lucia, whose economies rely heavily on CBI revenue.

"We have to make sure that the people who come here temporarily to work will not expose the islands or the United States to the growing, obvious risks associated with 'citizenship by investment'," Governor Bryan stated, framing the initiative as a matter of both economic necessity and regional security.

A Boom Economy with No One Left to Work

The sheer scale of the opportunity in the USVI cannot be overstated. Following the devastation of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, a colossal rebuilding effort, primarily funded by over $24 billion in U.S. federal disaster recovery allocations, is underway. This is not a short-term project; officials project it will take another 10 to 15 years to complete.

"We're essentially doing all of our infrastructure, sewers, water, power plants, electrical, most of our schools, two hospitals, two nursing homes, four clinics, you name it," Governor Bryan explained. The rebuild, managed by the Virgin Islands Office of Disaster Recovery, involves undergrounding the territory's power grid and reconstructing nearly every facet of public life.

This deluge of federal funding has ignited an unprecedented economic boom, but it has also exposed a critical vulnerability: a severe labor shortage. The territory’s unemployment rate has hovered at historic lows, dipping to 3.2% in March 2024, well below the U.S. national average. With an estimated need for 7,000 additional workers to execute the planned projects, the governor's assessment is stark.

"Our tourism product is on fire... We have been at 4% unemployment for the last two years. There's essentially nobody left to work," he said. "So we just need the talent."

To attract that talent, the USVI is offering powerful incentives through its Economic Development Commission program, including 90% waivers on both corporate and personal income taxes for qualifying businesses and individuals. However, access to this generational opportunity now comes with a geopolitical condition.

The 'Golden Passport' Crackdown

Governor Bryan's proposal directly aligns with a growing international crackdown on CBI programs, which Western governments view as a significant security threat. The U.S., United Kingdom, and European Union have all issued warnings that these schemes lack sufficient due diligence, creating potential pathways for individuals involved in organized crime, sanctions evasion, and espionage to gain visa-free travel privileges.

The pressure has already yielded consequences. In July 2023, the UK revoked visa-free access for citizens of Dominica, citing "clear and evident abuse" of its CBI program. The EU has similarly threatened to use its Visa-Free Travel Suspension Mechanism against countries whose CBI schemes are deemed a risk to the Schengen Area.

By favoring non-CBI nations, the USVI is effectively operationalizing this Western security posture. Governor Bryan specifically praised St. Vincent and the Grenadines for "the preservation of the sanctity of their passport system," positioning it as a model partner. This creates a clear economic incentive for Caribbean nations to abandon what has become a vital, if controversial, revenue stream. For countries like Dominica, where CBI funds accounted for an estimated 37% of GDP in 2023, the choice is excruciating.

A Widening Caribbean Divide

The governor's initiative threatens to create an economic schism within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), rewarding some members while punishing others. The reaction has been swift and divided.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines' government has responded with enthusiasm, with its leadership encouraging Vincentians to prepare for the job opportunities. Governor Bryan has reinforced this burgeoning partnership with trade missions to the country. In contrast, the five CBI-offering nations—Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia—are now on the defensive.

Facing pressure from all sides, several have announced reforms. St. Kitts, the originator of CBI, is introducing mandatory residency requirements, while Dominica has pledged legislative action after losing its visa-free access to the UK. These moves are a direct attempt to appease Western partners and preserve what remains of their programs' global mobility benefits. St. Lucia's Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre has acknowledged the pressure, noting the five nations are working to establish a joint regional regulator to improve oversight.

This dynamic places the USVI in a powerful position, able to cultivate exclusive labor agreements with its preferred partners while regional bodies like CARICOM remain officially silent on an issue that pits its members against one another.

The Geopolitical Chessboard

Underlying the entire proposal is the great-power competition between the United States and China for influence in the Caribbean. Governor Bryan's strategy dovetails perfectly with a broader U.S. foreign policy goal: rewarding allies who recognize Taiwan and pushing back against Beijing's growing presence in America's 'third border'.

Notably, Governor Bryan's favored partners, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Lucia, are among the few nations in the region that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. In contrast, CBI-offering countries like Dominica and Grenada have switched their allegiance to Beijing, benefiting from China's Belt and Road Initiative investments.

This geopolitical dimension is not subtle. The proposal gains further weight from recent moves in Washington, such as the introduction of the bipartisan United States-Taiwan Partnership in the Americas Act in August 2025. The bill is explicitly designed to support and reward Latin American and Caribbean nations that maintain ties with Taipei. Governor Bryan's plan acts as a tangible, economic manifestation of this policy, sending a clear message: loyalty to the U.S. and its democratic partners will be rewarded, while participation in risky passport schemes and alignment with strategic rivals will result in being left out of one of the region's largest economic booms.