Release Date: May 6, 2025
Overview:
Following Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves’ public condemnation of Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs as “unsustainable,” “corrupt,” and “money on your backs,” the Sentinel Research Group conducted a national telephone survey to measure public opinion. The findings reveal a significant divide between the Prime Minister’s position and the views of most Vincentians.
Methodology:
A total of 1,004 registered voters across all fifteen constituencies were surveyed by telephone between April 30 and May 4, 2025. The poll has a margin of error of ±3.1% at a 95% confidence level.
Key Findings:
1. Support for the CBI Program
Do you support the introduction of a Citizenship by Investment program in St. Vincent and the Grenadines?
• Yes: 62%
• No: 28%
• Undecided/No opinion: 10%2. Perceived Economic Benefits
Do you believe a CBI program would inject much-needed revenue into the economy and help create jobs, improve services, and stimulate growth?
• Yes: 76%
• No: 15%
• Undecided: 9%3. Impact on International Travel
Do you believe that implementing a CBI program would make it more difficult for Vincentians to travel to countries like the U.S., U.K., Canada, or the EU?
• No: 64%
• Yes: 23%
• Not sure: 13%4. Perception of Dignity and National Identity
Do you think offering citizenship in exchange for investment is undignified or diminishes national identity?
• No: 68%
• Yes: 21%
• Not sure: 11%5. Economic Survival vs. Purism
Would you rather have a good-paying job through a CBI-supported economy, or remain unemployed or underemployed without one?
• Prefer good-paying job via CBI economy: 81%
• Prefer not to have CBI despite economic challenges: 12%
• Undecided: 7%6. Perception of PM Gonsalves’ Stance
Do you support Prime Minister Gonsalves’ current posture on the CBI program, given his remarks about corruption and unsustainability—especially considering that other OECS countries currently run a CBI program?
• No, I do not support it: 62%
• Yes, I support it: 28%
• Not sure: 10%7. Regional Unity or Division
Do you believe Gonsalves’ tone and posture help promote regional unity and good neighborliness, or do they come across as divisive—even if well-meaning?
• Divisive, even if well-meant: 66%
• Promotes unity and good neighborliness: 20%
• Not sure: 14%
Conclusion:
The survey reveals widespread public support for a Citizenship by Investment program in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Most Vincentians believe it would improve their lives and benefit the national economy. They also reject the suggestion that such a program is undignified or inherently corrupt. Furthermore, a majority view Prime Minister Gonsalves’ rhetoric as divisive, particularly in light of the regional consensus in favor of CBI.
As global scrutiny intensifies, these results suggest that the Vincentian public is eager for a more pragmatic and economically forward-looking approach.