# Saint Kitts and Nevis - United States Department of State

- Saint Kitts and Nevis HomeReportsBureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices&#8230;Saint Kitts and Nevis				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Saint Kitts and Nevis																																					Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																																																																																							Download Report																																																							Translations																																																																 In this section										/																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																																													EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																															Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person																																																									a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings																																																																											b. Disappearance																																																																											c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses																																																																			Prison and Detention Center Conditions																																																																																																																		d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention																																																																			Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees																																																																																																																		e. Denial of Fair Public Trial																																																																			Trial Procedures																																																																																																																		f. Transnational Repression																																																																											g. Property Seizure and Restitution																																																																											h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence																																																																																	Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties																																																									a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media																																																																			Internet Freedom																																																																																																																		b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association																																																																											c. Freedom of Religion																																																																											d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country																																																																											e. Protection of Refugees																																																																																	Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process																																																									Elections and Political Participation																																																																																	Section 4. Corruption in Government																															Section 5. Government Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights																															Section 6. Discrimination and Societal Abuses																																																									Women																																																																											Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination																																																																											Children																																																																											Antisemitism																																																																											Trafficking in Persons																																																																											Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics																																																																											Persons with Disabilities																																																																											Other Societal Violence or Discrimination																																																																																	Section 7. Worker Rights																																																									a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining																																																																											b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor																																																																											c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment																																																																											d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																																																											e. Acceptable Conditions of Work																																																																																																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY				There were no significant changes in the human rights situation in the country during the year.There were no credible reports of significant human rights abuses.The government took credible steps to identify and punish officials who may have committed human rights.																														Section 1.													 Respect for the Integrity of the Person												    																																																a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings										There were no reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings, including extrajudicial killings.																																				b. Disappearance										There were no reports of disappearances by or on behalf of government authorities.																																				c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses										The constitution prohibited such practices, and there were no credible reports that government officials employed them.																Prison and Detention Center Conditions						The prisons on both islands of the country were overcrowded, and facilities were austere.Abusive Physical Conditions: There were two prisons in the country, with a total designed capacity of 160 inmates. Her Majesty’s Prison in Saint Kitts, built in 1840 and originally designed for 60 inmates, held approximately 260 inmates.Administration: Authorities generally investigated credible allegations of mistreatment.Independent Monitoring: Authorities generally permitted prison visits by independent human rights observers, although there were no known visits during the year.																										d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention										The constitution prohibited arbitrary arrest and detention and provided for the right of any person to challenge the lawfulness of his or her arrest or detention in court. The government generally observed these requirements.																Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees						Police could arrest a person without a warrant, based on the suspicion of criminal activity. The law required that detained persons be charged within 72 hours or be released. If detainees were charged, authorities were required to bring them before a court within 72 hours of detention. The government respected these rights. There was a functioning bail system. Detainees had prompt access to a lawyer of their choice or to a lawyer provided by the state. The government provided free defense counsel to indigent defendants only in capital cases. There was a private legal-aid program to provide legal assistance to indigent defendants.Authorities remanded persons accused of serious offenses to custody to await trial. They released persons accused of minor infractions on their own recognizance or on bail with sureties.																										e. Denial of Fair Public Trial										The constitution provided for an independent judiciary, and the government generally respected judicial independence and impartiality.																Trial Procedures						The constitution provided for the right to a fair and public trial, and the judiciary generally enforced this right.Political Prisoners and DetaineesThere were no reports of political prisoners or detainees.																										f. Transnational Repression										Not applicable.																																				g. Property Seizure and Restitution										Not applicable.																																				h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence										The constitution prohibited such actions, and there were no reports the government failed to respect these prohibitions.																																					Section 2.													 Respect for Civil Liberties												    																																																a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media										The constitution provided for freedom of expression, including for members of the press and other media, and the government generally respected this right. An independent media, an effective judiciary, and a functioning democratic political system combined to promote freedom of expression, including for media members.																Internet Freedom						The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content.																										b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association										The constitution provided for the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights. Civil servants were restricted from participating in partisan activities and protests.																																				c. Freedom of Religion										See the Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report at  https://www.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/.																																				d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country										The law provided for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these rights.																																				e. Protection of Refugees										The government coordinated with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in matters regarding refugees, asylum seekers, and other persons of concern.Access to Asylum: While the law provided for the granting of asylum or refugee status, the government had not established a system for providing protection to refugees.																																					Section 3.													 Freedom to Participate in the Political Process												    																						The constitution provided citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage.																										Elections and Political Participation										Abuse or Irregularities in Recent Elections: National elections were widely reported to be fair and free of abuses and irregularities.																																					Section 4.													 Corruption in Government												    																						The law provided criminal penalties for corruption by officials, and the government generally implemented the law effectively. Media and private citizens reported government corruption was occasionally a problem.Corruption: For additional information about corruption in the country, please see the Department of State’s Investment Climate Statement for the country, and the Department of State’s International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, which includes information on financial crimes.																											Section 5.													 Government Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights												    																						The country had a small number of domestic human rights groups that generally operated without government restriction to monitor or investigate human rights conditions or cases and publish their findings on human rights cases. Government officials were generally cooperative and responsive to the views of these groups.Government Human Rights Bodies: In March the government appointed an acting ombudsman to the Integrity Commission’s Office responsible for investigating administrative actions of a government authority to determine potential maladministration and provide recommendations to the governing body on ways to improve its administrative practices and procedures.																											Section 6.													 Discrimination and Societal Abuses												    																																																Women										Rape and Domestic Violence: The law classified sexual violence, rape, incest, and other forms of gender-based violence, including so-called corrective rape of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, or other sexual minority (LGBTQI+) persons, as serious offenses, and established penalties for perpetrators. The law prohibited rape of women but did not address spousal rape. The law utilized an “unnatural offenses” statute to address male rape. Penalties for rape ranged from two years’ imprisonment for incest between minors to life imprisonment. Indecent assault had a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment. There was no statute of limitations for prosecuting sexual offenses. The law criminalized domestic violence, including emotional abuse, and stipulated a fine or six months in prison. The government enforced the law.Violence against women and girls was a problem. The government noted an increase in reporting, with most cases involving women. Advocates indicated they believed the true number of domestic violence and other gender-based violence cases were likely higher than reported but that many survivors were reluctant to file reports due to the belief they would not be protected or that their abusers would not be prosecuted.Other Forms of Gender-based Violence or Harassment: The law did not explicitly prohibit sexual harassment in the workplace. Sexual harassment cases were instead prosecuted under the Protection of Employment Act.Discrimination: The law provided women the same legal status and rights as men, including under family, religious, personal status, and nationality laws, as well as in property, inheritance, employment, and owning or managing a business. No law prohibited gender-based discrimination in access to credit. In the labor sector, the law and regulations prohibited discrimination based on sex. The law required equal remuneration, and women and men generally received equal salaries for comparable jobs. The government effectively enforced the law.Reproductive Rights: There were no reports of coerced abortion or involuntary sterilization on the part of government authorities.Contraception was widely available, including emergency contraception, as part of family planning methods. There were no legal barriers to accessing contraception, but some religious beliefs and cultural barriers limited its usage. Survivors of sexual violence could access services, including emergency contraception and postexposure prophylaxis, from any public hospital. Emergency contraception was available with a doctor’s prescription.																																				Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination										The constitution expressly prohibited discrimination based on race, place of origin, birth out of wedlock, political opinions or affiliations, color, and sex or creed.There were no reports of governmental or societal violence or discrimination against members of racial, ethnic, or national minorities during the year. There were no reports of disproportionate access to education.																																				Children										Child Abuse: Child abuse was illegal. The government enforced the law effectively. According to the government, neglect was the most common form of abuse, while physical abuse, including sexual molestation, also occurred.The Special Victims Unit investigated allegations of physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence, juvenile abuse, and crimes against children. The unit worked closely with the Department of Probation and Child Protection Services when there were juvenile-related matters and the Department of Gender Affairs when there were cases of domestic violence. The Ministry of Social Services and the Ministry of Education regularly collaborated on programs to curb child abuse.The St. Christopher Children’s Home served abused and neglected children; it received funding and logistical support from the government.Child, Early, and Forced Marriage: The legal minimum age for marriage was 18 for both men and women. The government enforced the law effectively.Sexual Exploitation of Children: The law prohibited the sale and commercial sexual exploitation of children, but it did not explicitly prohibit grooming. The government generally enforced the law. Child pornography was illegal and carried a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. The age of consent for sexual relations was 16. Having sexual relations with children younger than 16 was illegal. The government enforced the law effectively.																																				Antisemitism										There was no organized Jewish community, and members of the Jewish faith reported there were no antisemitic acts.																																				Trafficking in Persons										There were no confirmed reports during the year that traffickers exploited domestic or foreign victims in the country or that traffickers exploited victims from abroad.																																				Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics										Criminalization: In 2022, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court struck down the law that criminalized consensual same-sex sexual conduct among men, ruling that the law violated “one’s freedom of expression and personal privacy.” As of October, however, the government had yet to amend the law.Violence and Harassment: The government stated it received no reports of violence or discrimination based on sexual orientation, but some observers suggested there was underreporting of LGBTQI+ discrimination by state and nonstate actors due to negative societal attitudes.Discrimination: No laws prohibited discrimination against a person based on sexual orientation or gender identity in matters regarding essential goods and services and access to government services, such as health care. The law did not specifically address persons who identified as LBGTQI+. The law did not specifically recognize LGBTQI+ couples, nor did it grant them equal rights or protections as a unit. According to a local NGO, employment discrimination remained a problem, although it was often not reported to authorities.Availability of Legal Gender Recognition: There was no legislation on legal gender recognition.Involuntary or Coercive Medical or Psychological Practices: There were no reports of involuntary or coercive medical or psychological practices specifically targeting LGBTQI+ individuals, or of medically unnecessary and irreversible “normalization” surgeries performed on children or nonconsenting adult intersex persons.Restrictions on Freedom of Expression, Association or Peaceful Assembly: There were no reports of restrictions on freedom of expression, association, or peaceful assembly specifically targeting LGBTQI+ individuals.																																				Persons with Disabilities										The law did not explicitly prohibit discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, or mental disabilities. Persons with disabilities experienced discrimination, particularly with access to buildings and public transportation. The law mandated access to buildings for persons with disabilities, but it was not consistently enforced.Children with disabilities attended school, although some parents of students with disabilities preferred to have their child stay at home. There was a separate school for students with disabilities in both Saint Kitts and Nevis. Many local schools accommodated students with physical disabilities, but not all public schools were accessible to students with disabilities, and there was an insufficient number of teachers trained to work with children with disabilities. Civil society representatives reported there was no infrastructure in place to assist secondary school students with disabilities in their transition to college.																																				Other Societal Violence or Discrimination										The law prohibited discrimination based on a person’s HIV status; however, societal discrimination occurred against persons with HIV or AIDS. The Ministry of Labor enforced a specific antidiscrimination policy covering HIV and AIDS in the workplace. The national HIV and AIDS program coordinator and other health officials noted that a person’s HIV status was categorized as personal medical information and deserved the right to be kept private and confidential. HIV and AIDS patients were often hesitant to visit public health facilities due to concern their status might be shared within the community.																																					Section 7.													 Worker Rights												    																																																a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining										The law provided for the right to form and join independent unions or staff associations and the right to collective bargaining. The government generally respected the law. The law permitted police, civil servants, hotels, construction workers, and small businesses to organize staff associations. Staff associations did not have bargaining powers but were used to network and develop professional standards. A union representing more than 50 percent of employees at a company could apply for the company to recognize the union for collective bargaining. Companies generally recognized the establishment of a union if a majority of its workers voted in favor of organizing the union, but the companies were not legally obliged to do so.In practice, but not by law, there were restrictions on strikes by workers who provided essential services, such as police and civil servants. The law prohibited antiunion discrimination but did not require employers found guilty of such discrimination to rehire employees fired for union activities. The International Labor Organization provided technical assistance to the government in labor law reform, labor administration, employment services, labor inspection, and occupational safety and health. The government enforced applicable laws effectively, and penalties were commensurate with those for other laws involving denials of civil rights, such as discrimination. The Ministry of Labor provided employers with training on their rights and responsibilities.																																				b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor										See the Department of State’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report at:  http://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/.																																				c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment										The law prohibited the worst forms of child labor, and a Special Victims Unit, led by the Child Protection Services and police, investigated violations. The law set the minimum age for work at 16. Prohibitions did not apply to family businesses. Children ages 16 to 18 had the same legal protections from dangerous work conditions as all workers. The law permitted children 16-18 to work regular hours. Employment of children 16-18 in certain industries related to the hotel and entertainment sectors was restricted. The government effectively enforced the applicable laws, and penalties were commensurate with those for analogous crimes. Most children younger than age 16 with jobs worked after school in shops and supermarkets or did light work in the informal sector.The Ministry of Labor relied heavily on school truancy officers and the Community Affairs Division to monitor compliance with child labor laws, which they did effectively. The ministry reported that investigations were frequent and that violators were referred to the Social Security Office for enforcement.																																				d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																														e. Acceptable Conditions of Work										Wage and Hour Laws: The national minimum wage for all sectors of the economy was above the estimated poverty income level. The law did not prohibit excessive or compulsory overtime, but policy called for employers to inform employees if they had to work overtime. Although not required by law, workers generally received at least one 24-hour rest period per week.Occupational Safety and Health: The government set occupational safety and health (OSH) standards that were outdated but appropriate for the country’s main industries. Workers could remove themselves from situations that endangered health or safety without jeopardy to their employment, and authorities effectively protected employees in this situation. The law also required employers to report accidents and dangerous incidents.Wage, Hour, and OSH Enforcement: The government effectively enforced minimum wage, overtime, and OSH laws, and penalties were commensurate with those for similar crimes, such as fraud. Violators were subject to fines, and repeat offenders were subject to prosecution.The Labor Commission settled disputes concerning OSH conditions. The labor commissioner in the Ministry of Labor conducted regular workplace inspections. Labor inspectors had the authority to make unannounced inspections and make recommendations. The commission undertook wage inspections and special investigations when it received complaints. If the commission found that employers violated wage regulations, penalties were generally sufficient to encourage compliance. The government reported there were no violations resulting in arrests or prosecutions. A local NGO reported that most OSH violators regularly received penalties, although it was often difficult for victims to navigate the procedure to file claims.The government estimated 10 percent of the workforce was in the informal sector. The government conducted limited enforcement of labor laws in this sector.																																				    							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Respect for the Integrity of the Person																																							a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings																																																						b. Disappearance																																																						c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses																																																				Prison and Detention Center Conditions																																																																																				d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention																																																				Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees																																																																																				e. Denial of Fair Public Trial																																																				Trial Procedures																																																																																				f. Transnational Repression																																																						g. Property Seizure and Restitution																																																						h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence																																																			Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties																																							a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media																																																				Internet Freedom																																																																																				b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association																																																						c. Freedom of Religion																																																						d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country																																																						e. Protection of Refugees																																																			Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process																																							Elections and Political Participation																																																			Section 4. Corruption in Government																Section 5. Government Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights																Section 6. Discrimination and Societal Abuses																																							Women																																																						Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination																																																						Children																																																						Antisemitism																																																						Trafficking in Persons																																																						Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics																																																						Persons with Disabilities																																																						Other Societal Violence or Discrimination																																																			Section 7. Worker Rights																																							a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining																																																						b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor																																																						c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment																																																						d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																																						e. Acceptable Conditions of Work																																																									Tags																					Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																								Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs																								Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Kitts and Nevis National Day Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of StateOn behalf of the United States of America, I congratulate the people and government of Saint Kitts and Nevis on the 40th anniversary of your independence.The United States and Saint Kitts and Nevis enjoy a close relationship founded on respect for democratic values and our shared commitment to combat global challenges. Through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, the U.S.- Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis (PACC 2030) and other initiatives, we work together to combat the climate crisis, promote regional security, bolster access to clean energy and food security, and encourage economic prosperity for our peoples.As we celebrate 40 years of our bilateral relations, I look forward to continuing and building on our strong ties in the years to come.
- Saint Kitts and Nevis HomeReportsBureau of Economic and Business Affairs2023 Investment Climate Statements&#8230;Saint Kitts and Nevis				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2023 Investment Climate Statements: Saint Kitts and Nevis																																																																																												 In this section										/																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																																													EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																															1. Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment																																																									Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment																																																																											Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment																																																																											Other Investment Policy Reviews																																																																											Business Facilitation																																																																											Outward Investment																																																																																	2. Bilateral Investment and Taxation Treaties																																																									Saint Kitts and Nevis is also party to the following:																																																																			Caribbean Community (CARICOM)																																																								Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)																																																								Caribbean Basin Initiative																																																								CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement																																																								CARIFORUM-UK Economic Partnership Agreement																																																								Caribbean-Canada Trade Agreement																																																																																																																								3. Legal Regime																																																									Transparency of the Regulatory System																																																																											International Regulatory Considerations																																																																											Legal System and Judicial Independence																																																																											Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment																																																																											Citizenship by Investment																																																																											Competition and Antitrust Laws																																																																											Expropriation and Compensation																																																																											Dispute Settlement																																																																			ICSID Convention and New York Convention																																																								Investor-State Dispute Settlement																																																								International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts																																																																																																																		Bankruptcy Regulations																																																																																	4. Industrial Policies																																																									Investment Incentives																																																																											Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation																																																																											Performance and Data Localization Requirements																																																																																	5. Protection of Property Rights																																																									Real Property																																																																											Intellectual Property Rights																																																																																	6. Financial Sector																																																									Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment																																																																											Money and Banking System																																																																											Foreign Exchange and Remittances																																																																			Foreign Exchange																																																								Remittance Policies																																																																																																																		Sovereign Wealth Funds																																																																																	7. State-Owned Enterprises																																																									Privatization Program																																																																																	8. Responsible Business Conduct																																																									Additional Resources																																																																											Climate Issues																																																																																	9. Corruption																															10. Political and Security Environment																															11. Labor Policies and Practices																															12. U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and Other Investment Insurance or Development Finance Programs																															13. Foreign Direct Investment Statistics																															14. Contact for More Information																																																					EXECUTIVE SUMMARY				The Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis (Saint Kitts and Nevis) is a member of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU). The government seeks to facilitate a conducive business climate to attract more foreign investment. Saint Kitts and Nevis remains vulnerable to external shocks such as climate change impacts, natural disasters, and global economic downturns.According to Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) figures, the economy of Saint Kitts and Nevis had an estimated GDP of $979.2 million (2.64 billion Eastern Caribbean dollars) in 2022, showing signs of post-Covid economic recovery. Like most of the Eastern Caribbean, the country continues to grapple with recovery from COVID-19, supply-chain issues, and rising food and fuel prices associated with Russia’s war on Ukraine. As of May 2023, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecast that the economy will grow by 4.5% in 2023.The tourism sector is showing signs of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of the pandemic on tourism, a mainstay of Saint Kitts and Nevis’s economy that generates over 60 percent of GDP, has had ripple effects across the economy.Saint Kitts and Nevis has identified priority sectors for investment. These include food security, green energy transition, economic diversification, sustainable industries, creative economy, COVID-19 recovery, social protection, financial services, tourism, real estate, agriculture, information technology, education services, renewable energy, and limited light manufacturing.The government provides some investment incentives for businesses that are considering establishing operations in Saint Kitts or Nevis, encouraging both domestic and foreign private investment. Foreign investors can repatriate all profits, dividends, and import capital.The country’s legal system is based on British common law. It does not have a bilateral investment treaty with the United States. It has a Double Taxation Agreement with the United States, although the agreement only addresses social security benefits.In 2016, Saint Kitts and Nevis signed an Intergovernmental Agreement in observance of the U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), making it mandatory for banks in Saint and Nevis to report banking information of U.S. citizens.Table 1: Key Metrics and RankingsMeasure Year Index/Rank Website AddressTI Corruption Perceptions Index 2022N/A http://www.transparency.org/research/cpi/overview  Global Innovation Index 2022 N/A https://www.globalinnovationindex.org/analysis-indicator  U.S. FDI in partner country ($M USD, historical stock positions) 2021 $461.0M https://apps.bea.gov/international/factsheet World Bank GNI per capita 2021 $18,820 http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GNP.PCAP.CD  																																					1. Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment						    																																																Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment										The Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis strongly encourages foreign direct investment (FDI), particularly in industries that create jobs, earn foreign currency, and have a positive impact on its citizens.In the federation, each island has a separate investment promotion agency, the Saint Kitts Investment Promotion Agency (SKIPA), and the Nevis Investment Promotion Agency (NIPA). Both agencies have introduced several investment incentives for businesses that consider locating in the federation. SKIPA and NIPA provide “one-stop shop” facilitation services to investors, guiding them through the various stages of the investment process. More information is available on their websites:  https://investstkitts.kn/  and  https://www.investnevis.org/  . Saint Kitts and Nevis also has a citizenship by investment program to facilitate certain forms of FDI (see section on laws and regulations on foreign investment for additional details).The government encourages investment in all sectors, but targeted sectors include financial services, tourism, real estate, agriculture, information and communication technologies, international education services, renewable energy, ship registries, and limited light manufacturing.The country is home to the ECCB, the Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange (ECSE), and the Eastern Caribbean Securities Regulatory Commission.																																				Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment										Local laws do not dictate any limits on foreign control in Saint Kitts and Nevis.  Foreign investors may hold up to 100 percent of an investment.  Local enterprises generally welcome joint ventures with foreign investors to access technology, expertise, markets, and capital.Foreign investment in Saint Kitts and Nevis is generally not subject to any restrictions, and foreign investors receive the same treatment as citizens.  The only exception to this is the requirement that foreign investors obtain an Alien Landholders License to purchase residential or commercial property.Both SKIPA and NIPA have the authority to review all proposed investments that apply for government incentives to ensure that the project is consistent with the country’s laws and national interest and would provide economic benefits to Saint Kitts and Nevis. The review process is transparent. The investor must complete a series of steps to obtain a business license. These steps are listed at  https://investstkitts.kn/  and  https://www.investnevis.org/ .																																				Other Investment Policy Reviews										In May 2023, the World Trade Organization (WTO) conducted a trade policy review of the OECS of which Saint Kitts and Nevis is a member. The full report is available at  https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp537_e.htm . There have not been any investment policy reviews of Saint Kitts and Nevis by civil society organizations in the past five years.																																				Business Facilitation										SKIPA and NIPA facilitate domestic and foreign direct investment in priority sectors and advise the government on the formation and implementation of policies and programs to attract investment. Both agencies provide business support services and market intelligence to investors.Businesses must register with the Financial Services Regulatory Commission, the Registrar of Companies, the Ministry of Finance, the Inland Revenue Department, and the Social Security Board. It is not mandatory to use an attorney to prepare to incorporation documents.																																				Outward Investment										Local laws do not place any restrictions on domestic investors seeking to do business abroad. Local companies in Saint Kitts and Nevis are actively encouraged to take advantage of export opportunities specifically related to the country’s membership in the OECS Economic Union and the Caribbean Community Single Market and Economy (CSME), which enhance the competitiveness of the local and regional private sectors across traditional and emerging high-potential markets.																																												2. Bilateral Investment and Taxation Treaties						    																						Saint Kitts and Nevis does not have a bilateral investment treaty with the United States. It has a Double Taxation Agreement with the United States, but this agreement is limited solely to social security benefits. Saint Kitts and Nevis’s Double Taxation Agreements meet Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) standards, as well as Tax Information Exchange Agreements standards. Saint Kitts and Nevis maintains double taxation agreements with several countries including Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and the UK. It has Double Taxation Conventions (DTCs) with Monaco, San Marino, and some Caribbean Community countries. Saint Kitts and Nevis is a member of the OECD Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting and is party to the OECD’s October 2021 deal on the two-pillar solution to global tax challenges, including a global minimum corporate tax.																										Saint Kitts and Nevis is also party to the following:																										Caribbean Community (CARICOM)						The Treaty of Chaguaramas established the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in 1973 to promote economic integration among its 15 member states. Investors operating in Saint Kitts and Nevis have preferential access to the entire CARICOM market. The Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas established the CSME, which permits the free movement of goods, capital, and labor within CARICOM member states. CARICOM has bilateral agreements with Cuba, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela.  In 2013, CARICOM entered into a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with the United States.						Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)						The Treaty of Basseterre established the OECS in 1981. The OECS consists of seven full members (Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), and four associate members (Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, and Martinique). The purpose of the Treaty is to promote harmonization among member states in foreign policy, defense and security, and economic affairs. The seven full members ratified the Revised Treaty of Basseterre establishing the OECS Economic Union, which entered into force in 2011. The Economic Union established a single financial and economic space within which goods, services, and people move without hindrance.						Caribbean Basin Initiative						The Caribbean Basin Initiative facilitates the economic development and export diversification of the Caribbean Basin economies. It encourages private sector initiatives by expanding foreign and domestic investment in non-traditional sectors, diversifying country economies, and expanding their imports, and it permits duty-free entry of eligible products manufactured or assembled in Saint Kitts and Nevis into the United States.						CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement						The European Community and the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) the CARICOM states signed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in 2008. CARIFORUM consists of the independent Anglophone CARCOM member states, the Dominican Republic, and Suriname. The overarching objectives of the EPA are to alleviate poverty in CARIFORUM states, to promote regional integration and economic cooperation, and to foster the gradual integration of the CARIFORUM states into the world economy by improving their trade capacity and creating investment-conducive environments. The EPA promotes trade-related developments in areas such as competition, intellectual property, public procurement, the environment, and protection of personal data.						CARIFORUM-UK Economic Partnership Agreement						The UK and the Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM) states CARIFORUM signed an EPA in 2019, committing to trade continuity after Britain’s departure from the European Union. The CARIFORUM-UK EPA eliminates all tariffs on all goods imported from CARIFORUM states into the UK, while Caribbean states will continue to gradually cut import tariffs on most of the region’s imports from the UK.						Caribbean-Canada Trade Agreement						The Caribbean-Canada Trade Agreement (CARIBCAN) is an economic and trade development assistance program for Commonwealth Caribbean countries. Through CARIBCAN, Canada provides duty-free access to its national market for most products originating in Commonwealth Caribbean countries.																																		3. Legal Regime						    																																																Transparency of the Regulatory System										The Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis provides a legal framework to foster competition and establish clear rules for foreign and domestic investors in the areas of tax, labor, environment, health, and safety. The Saint Kitts and Nevis Ministry of Finance and SKIPA, and the Nevis Ministry of Finance and NIPA, provides oversight of the system’s transparency as it relates to investment. The government does not promote or require environmental, social, and governance disclosures by companies.The incorporation and registration of companies differs somewhat on the country’s two constituent islands. In Saint Kitts, the Companies Act regulates the process. In Nevis, the Nevis Island Business Corporation Ordinance regulates the incorporation of companies. There are no nationality restrictions for directors in a company, and in general, national treatment is applied. All registered companies must have a registered office in Saint Kitts and Nevis.Rulemaking and regulatory authority lies with the unicameral parliament of Saint Kitts and Nevis. The parliament consists of 11 members elected in single-seat constituencies (eight from Saint Kitts and three from Nevis) for a five-year term.In February 2023, the government passed the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Act which enables citizens to request information about a wide range of topics such as government spending, public policies, and the conduct of public officials. It also aims to hold government officials accountable for their actions and to promote greater transparency in government. The government maintains an information service and a website where it posts information such as directories of officials and a summary of laws and press releases. A list of the national laws and ordinances that are passed annually can be found online at:  https://www.lawcommission.gov.kn/ . The government budget and limited debt obligation information are available online at:  https://www.gov.kn  . The government also maintains a legal aid and advice website to provide legal services to low-income citizens:  https://www.legal.gov.kn/legal-aid-and-advice-centre/  . Accounting, legal, and regulatory procedures are generally transparent and consistent with international norms. The International Financial Accounting Standards, which stem from the General Accepted Accounting Principles, govern the accounting profession in Saint Kitts and Nevis.The independent Office of the Ombudsman guards against abuses by government officers in the performance of their duties. The Ombudsman is responsible for investigating any complaint relating to any decision or act of any government officer or body in any case in which a member of the public claims to be aggrieved or appears to the Ombudsman to be the victim of injustice due to the exercise of the administrative function of that officer or body.Regulations are developed nationally and regionally. Nationally, the relevant line ministry reviews regulations. Ministries then submit the results of their reviews to the Ministry of Justice, Legal Affairs and Communications for the preparation of the draft legislation. Subsequently, the Ministry of Justice, Legal Affairs and Communications reviews all agreements and legal commitments (national, regional, and international) to be undertaken by Saint Kitts and Nevis to ensure consistency prior to finalization. SKIPA has the main responsibility for project-level supervision, while the Ministry of Finance monitors investments to collect information for national statistics and reporting purposes. Regulatory actions under the purview of the country’s Financial Services Regulatory Commission are posted on its website.Saint Kitts and Nevis’s membership in regional organizations, particularly the OECS and its Economic Union, commits it to implement all appropriate measures to ensure the fulfillment of its various treaty obligations. For example, the Banking Act, which establishes a single banking space and the harmonization of banking regulations in the Economic Union, is uniformly in force in the eight member territories of the ECCU, although there are some minor differences in implementation from country to country. The enforcement mechanisms of these regulations include penalties or legal sanctions.																																				International Regulatory Considerations										As a member of the OECS and the Eastern Caribbean Customs Union, Saint Kitts and Nevis subscribes to a set of principles and policies outlined in the Revised Treaty of Basseterre. The relationship between national and regional systems is such that each participating member state is expected to coordinate and adopt, where possible, common national policies aimed at the progressive harmonization of relevant policies and systems across the region. Thus, Saint Kitts and Nevis is obligated to implement regionally developed regulations, such as legislation passed under OECS authority, unless it seeks specific concessions.The Saint Kitts and Nevis Bureau of Standards develops, establishes, maintains, and promotes standards for improving industrial development, industrial efficiency, the health and safety of consumers, the environment, food and food products, and the facilitation of trade. It also conducts national training and consultations in international standards practices. As a signatory to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on the Technical Barriers to Trade, through the Saint Kitts and Nevis Bureau of Standards, is obligated to harmonize all national standards to international norms to avoid creating technical barriers to trade.Saint Kitts and Nevis ratified the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) in 2016. Ratification of the Agreement is an important signal to investors of the country’s commitment to improving its business environment for trade. The TFA aims to improve the speed and efficiency of border procedures, facilitate reductions in trade costs, and enhance participation in the global value chain. Saint Kitts and Nevis has already implemented some TFA requirements. A full list is available at:  https://tfadatabase.org/members/saint-kitts-and-nevis  .As a member of CARICOM, Saint Kitts and Nevis utilizes the Advanced Cargo Information System, a computer-based system developed by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to harmonize and standardize electronic cargo information in order to improve the capability to track cargo efficiently and to support regional and international trade. The Advanced Cargo Information System forms a critical part of the World Customs Organization SAFE Framework of Standards. Saint Kitts and Nevis has also fully implemented the Automated System for Customs Data.																																				Legal System and Judicial Independence										Saint Kitts and Nevis bases its legal system on the British common law system. The Attorney General, the Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC), junior judges, and magistrates administer justice in the country. The ECSC Act establishes the Supreme Court of Judicature, which consists of the High Court and the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal. The High Court hears criminal and civil matters and makes determinations on interpretation of the Constitution. Parties may appeal to the ECSC, an itinerant court that hears appeals from all OECS members. Final appeal is to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council of the UK.The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is the regional judicial tribunal, established in 2001 by the Agreement Establishing the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. The CCJ has original jurisdiction to interpret and apply the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. In its appellate jurisdiction, the CCJ considers and determines appeals from CARICOM member states, which are parties to the Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice. Currently, Saint Kitts and Nevis is subject only to the original jurisdiction of the CCJ.The United States and Saint Kitts and Nevis are both parties to the WTO. The WTO Dispute Settlement Panel and Appellate Body resolve disputes over WTO agreements, while courts of appropriate jurisdiction in both countries resolve private disputes.																																				Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment										Saint Kitts and Nevis’ policy is to attract foreign direct investment into the priority sectors identified under its National Diversification Strategy. These include financial services, tourism, real estate, agriculture, information technology, education services, and limited light manufacturing. However, investment opportunities also exist in renewable energy and other services. The main laws concerning foreign investment include the Fiscal Incentive Act, the Hotels Aid Act, and the Companies Act.SKIPA and NIPA offer websites useful for navigating procedures and registration requirements for foreign investors at  https://investstkitts.kn  and  https://investnevis.org . Saint Kitts also offers an online investment handbook at  https://goldenbookskn.com .																																				Citizenship by Investment										Under Saint Kitts and Nevis’ citizenship by investment program, foreign individuals can obtain citizenship without needing to establish residence (or gaining voting rights). Applicants are required to undergo a due diligence process before citizenship can be granted. A minimum investment for a single investor to qualify is $200,000 (540,510 Eastern Caribbean dollars) in real estate or a $150,000 (405,383 Eastern Caribbean dollars) contribution to the Sustainable Growth Fund. Applicants must also provide a medical certificate and evidence of the source of funds. Further information is available at:  http://www.ciu.gov.kn/ .																																				Competition and Antitrust Laws										Chapter 8 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas outlines the competition policy applicable to CARICOM states. Member states are required to establish and maintain a national competition authority for implementing the rules of competition. CARICOM established a Caribbean Competition Commission to apply rules of competition regarding anti-competitive cross-border business conduct. CARICOM competition policy addresses anti-competitive business conduct such as agreements between enterprises, decisions by associations of enterprises, and concerted practices by enterprises that have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction, or distortion of competition within CARICOM, and actions by which an enterprise abuses its dominant position within CARICOM. Saint Kitts and Nevis is a member of the CCC.The OECS has agreed to establish a regional authority to regulate competition in the economic union and would be a part of the CCC. To date, the draft OECS Competition Bill remains under review. As such, there is currently no legislation or authority outside of the CARICOM framework that regulates competition in Saint Kitts and Nevis.																																				Expropriation and Compensation										Saint Kitts and Nevis employs eminent domain laws which allow the government to expropriate private property. The government is required to compensate owners. There are also laws that permit the acquisition of private businesses, and the government claims such laws are constitutional. The concept of eminent domain and the expropriation of private property is typically governed by laws that require governments to adequately compensate owners of the expropriated property at the time of its expropriation or soon thereafter. In some cases, the procedure for compensation of owners favors the government valuation.The U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown is aware of two separate and outstanding cases involving the seizure of private land by the government.In the first case, the Saint Kitts and Nevis government was mandated to pay the American claimant a total of four installments. After completing payments in 2013 and 2014, the Saint Kitts and Nevis government alleged that another individual made a claim on part of the property and that it must wait until a court determines the outcome of the other claim before completing payments to the original claimant. In the interim, the court ruled that by November 2020, the the government should deposit the balance of payment due into a court-controlled escrow account to facilitate payment upon resolution of the second property claim. During the reporting period, the Saint Kitts and Nevis government did not deposit the balance into a court-controlled account. No further payments were made to the estate of the claimant after he died in May 2021, according to the claimant’s son, who is still pursuing the case. A motion to strike out the appeal was heard by the supreme court in April 2023. The court has yet to give its final ruling.In the second case, an American company signed an agreement to provide 2 million gallons of water to Saint Kitts and Nevis in 2015. The government expropriated the company’s drilling equipment in 2018 without compensation. In 2019, the government agreed to pay a $1 million settlement to the company and to deposit an additional $500,000 into an escrow account. The company subsequently agreed to a settlement of $750,000 in addition to the escrow deposit. Although the government agreed to the payments, the Ministry of Infrastructure has not released the funds. According to the Office of the Attorney General, while an additional agreement was reached between the parties in December 2020 regarding the delivery of water and the payment of all fees, the contract was subsequently renegotiated. The U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown continues to recommend thorough due diligence when conducting business in Saint Kitts and Nevis.																																				Dispute Settlement																										ICSID Convention and New York Convention						Saint Kitts and Nevis is a party to the Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of Other States.  It is not a member of the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, also known as the New York Arbitration Convention.  However, as a member of the Organization of American States (OAS), Saint Kitts and Nevis adheres to the New York Arbitration Convention.  The Arbitration Act Chap. 3.01 is the main legislation that governs arbitration in Saint Kitts and Nevis.						Investor-State Dispute Settlement						Investors are permitted to use national or international arbitration for contracts with the state.  Saint Kitts and Nevis does not have a bilateral investment treaty or a free trade agreement with an investment chapter with the United States. Through the Arbitration Act, the local courts recognize and enforce foreign arbitral awards issued against the government.						International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts						The ECSC is the domestic arbitration body. Local courts recognize and enforce foreign commercial arbitral awards. International commercial arbitration in Saint Kitts and Nevis is applied under the Arbitration Act. The ECSC’s Court of Appeal also provides mediation.																										Bankruptcy Regulations										Saint Kitts and Nevis has a bankruptcy framework that grants certain rights to debtor and creditor, including the ability of creditors to pursue necessary actions to resolve outstanding debts.																																												4. Industrial Policies						    																																																Investment Incentives										To increase investment in the country, the government of Saint Kitts and Nevis implemented a series of investment incentives codified in the Fiscal Incentives Act.  The Fiscal Incentives Act includes a tax holiday of up to 15 years; additional tax rebates of up to five years; exemption from customs duties on material and equipment deemed necessary to establish or update an enterprise; repatriation of profits, dividends, royalties, and imported capital by arrangement with the Ministry of Finance; and protection of investment through government agreement.  Four types of enterprises qualify for tax holidays.The length of the tax holiday for the first three types of enterprises depends on the amount of value added in Saint Kitts and Nevis.  The Fiscal Incentives Act (Amendment) Bill, 2019, amended the definition of the fourth type of enterprise, known as enclave industry.  Enclave enterprises are now permitted to sell goods within the CARICOM region and in the local market, in addition to exporting these goods.EnterpriseValue AddedMaximum Tax HolidayGroup IAt least 50 percent or more15 yearsGroup IIAt least 25 percent but less than 50 percent12 yearsGroup IIIAt least 10 percent but less than 25 percent10 yearsEnclaveEnclave15 yearsCompanies that qualify for tax holidays may import duty-free all equipment, machinery, spare parts, and raw materials used in production.The Hotels Aid Act provides relief from customs duties on items brought into the country for use in the construction, extension, and equipping of a hotel of not less than ten bedrooms.  In addition, the Income Tax Act provides special tax relief benefits for hotels of more than 30 bedrooms.  These hotels are exempt from income tax for ten years.  If the hotel contains fewer than 30 bedrooms, gains or profits are exempt from income tax for five years.Value Added Tax is levied on the total accommodation charges of a hotel or guest house and on the cost of food and beverages sold by a restaurant.  This total tax rate is ten percent.Tax laws do not require investors in Saint Kitts and Nevis to pay a capital gains tax.  Qualified companies enjoy full exemption from taxes on corporate profits for a period not exceeding 15 years.  Corporate tax does not apply to exempt companies or to enterprises that were granted tax concessions.  There is no personal income tax.  Additional tax concessions are available at the end of the tax holiday period.Normally, individuals and ordinary companies remitting payments to parties outside Saint Kitts and Nevis must deduct ten percent withholding tax from profits, administration, management or head office expenses, technical services fees, accounting and audit expenses, royalties, non-life insurance premiums, and rent.  However, this tax does not apply to profits of an approved enterprise such as exempt trusts, limited partnerships, companies, or foundations.The Unincorporated Business Tax Act mandates a levy on the gross revenue of services provided by professionals such as doctors, lawyers, dentists, and other specified persons listed in the schedule at a rate of four percent. The government of Saint Kitts and Nevis does not issue guarantees or jointly finance foreign direct investment projects.No incentives are offered for businesses owned by underrepresented investors such as women.For 2-5MW investments in solar, wind, and waste-to-energy, 10MW investments in geothermal energy, and investments in LED and solar streetlights, the government of Saint Kitts and Nevis offers exemptions from import duties and custom service charges on related equipment. Due to the small market size, these incentives have had limited impact to date on facilitating green investment.																																				Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation										There are no foreign trade zones, free ports, or special economic zones in Saint Kitts and Nevis. However, there are four fully developed industrial sites where production facilities can be constructed to specifications and leased at nominal rates. The Development Bank of Saint Kitts and Nevis manages the sites on behalf of the government.																																				Performance and Data Localization Requirements										Saint Kitts and Nevis does not mandate local employment. The provisions of the Labor Code outline the requirements for acquiring a work permit and prohibit anyone who is not a citizen of Saint Kitts and Nevis or the OECS from engaging in employment without a work permit. When Saint Kitts and Nevis grants work permits to senior management because no qualified nationals are available for the post, the government may recommend a counterparty trainee who is a citizen. There are no excessively onerous visa, residency, or work permit requirements.As a member of the WTO, Saint Kitts and Nevis is party to the Agreement to the Trade Related Investment Measures. While there are no formal performance requirements, the government encourages investments that will create jobs and increase exports and foreign exchange earnings. There are no requirements for participation either by nationals or by the government in foreign investment projects. There is no requirement that enterprises must purchase a fixed percentage of goods or technology from local sources, but the government encourages local sourcing. Foreign investors may hold up to 100 percent of an investment. Except for the requirement to obtain an Alien Landholders License, foreign investment in Saint Kitts and Nevis is not subject to any restrictions, and foreign investors receive national treatment. There are no requirements for foreign information technology providers to turn over source code and/or provide access to surveillance. There are no measures or draft measures that prevent or restrict companies from freely transmitting customer or other business-related data outside the country. In 2018, the government passed the Data Protection Act No. 5 to promote the protection of personal and private data.																																												5. Protection of Property Rights						    																																																Real Property										Civil law protects physical property and mortgage claims. Foreign investors are required to obtain an Alien Landholders License to purchase residential or commercial property. The cost of these licenses is ten percent of the value of the land, plus fees associated with an attorney or other local service provider. Cabinet grants these licenses. Foreign investors are not required to pay the Alien Landholders License Tax in areas designated as special development zones, such as Frigate Bay or certain parts of the Southeast Peninsula. The Land Registry Act of 2017 was enacted to modernize records, identify property owners, and register clear land titles.																																				Intellectual Property Rights										Saint Kitts and Nevis is signatory to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, the Patent Cooperation Treaty, and the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works.  It is also a member of the UN World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The country is not listed in the U.S. Trade Representative’s 2023 Special 301 Report or in its 2022 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy.Saint Kitts and Nevis has a legislative framework supporting its commitment to the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR).  While the legal structures governing IPR are adequate, enforcement is inconsistent.  The Intellectual Property Office of Saint Kitts and Nevis (IPOSKN) is responsible for administering all laws related to IPR and overseeing the registration of patents, trademarks, and service marks.  Its website is   https://ipo.gov.kn  .Article 66 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas establishing the CSME commits all 15 members to implement IPR protection and enforcement.  The CARIFORUM-EU EPA contains the most detailed obligations regarding IPR in any trade agreement to which Saint Kitts and Nevis is party.  The EPA recognizes to the protection and enforcement of IPR. Article 139 of the EPA requires parties to “ensure an adequate and effective implementation of the international treaties dealing with intellectual property to which they are parties and of the [WTO] Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).” As a member of the WTO, Saint Kitts and Nevis recognizes the WTO TRIPS Agreement.The Customs Department of Saint Kitts and Nevis can seize prohibited or counterfeit goods.  However, the courts rule on the forfeiture and disposal of such goods.  Complainants arrange with Customs to secure suspected counterfeit and prohibited goods until a judgment is rendered.  Saint Kitts and Nevis is in the process of reviewing its existing laws in relation to the importation of counterfeit and prohibited goods.For additional information about national laws and points of contact at local IP offices, please see WIPO’s country profiles at  http://www.wipo.int/directory/en/. 																																												6. Financial Sector						    																																																Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment										Saint Kitts and Nevis is a member of the ECCU. As such, it is a member of the Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange (ECSE) and the Regional Government Securities Market. The ECSE is a regional securities market established by the ECCB and licensed under the Securities Act of 2001, a uniform regional body of legislation governing the buying and selling of financial products for the eight member territories. It is regulated by the Eastern Caribbean Regulatory Commission.The ECSE and its subsidiaries, the Eastern Caribbean Central Securities Depository and the Eastern Caribbean Central Securities Registry, facilitate activities on the ECSE. The main activities are the primary issuance and secondary trading of corporate and sovereign securities, the clearance and settlement of issues and trades, maintaining securities holders’ records, and providing custodial, registration, transfer agency, and paying agency services while respecting listed and non-listed securities. As of March 2022, there were 164 securities listed on the ECSE, comprising 135 sovereign debt instruments, 13 equities, and 16 corporate debt securities. Market capitalization stood at $703 million (1.9 billion Eastern Caribbean dollars). Saint Kitts and Nevis is open to portfolio investment.Saint Kitts and Nevis accepted the obligations of Article VIII of the IMF Agreement, Sections 2, 3 and 4, and maintains an exchange system free of restrictions on making payments and transfers for current international transactions.  The private sector has access to credit on the local market through loans, purchases of non-equity securities, trade credits, and other accounts receivable that establish a claim for repayment.																																				Money and Banking System										The eight participating governments of the ECCU have passed the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank Agreement Act. The act provides for the establishment of the ECCB, its management and administration, its currency, relations with financial institutions, relations with the participating governments, foreign exchange operations, external reserves, and other related matters. Saint Kitts and Nevis is a signatory to this agreement and the ECCB controls Saint Kitts and Nevis’ currency and regulates its domestic banks.The Banking Act (2015) is a harmonized piece of legislation across ECCU member states. The ECCB and the Ministers of Finance of member states jointly carryout banking supervision under this act. The Minister of Finance usually act in consultation with the ECCB with respect to those areas of responsibility within the minister’s portfolio.Domestic and foreign banks can establish operations in Saint Kitts and Nevis. The Banking Act requires all commercial banks and other institutions to be licensed in order to conduct any banking business. The ECCB regulates financial institutions. As part of ongoing supervision, licensed financial institutions are required to submit monthly, quarterly, and annual performance reports to the ECCB. In its latest annual report, the ECCB listed the commercial banking sector in Saint Kitts and Nevis as stable. Assets of commercial banks totaled $2.5 billion (6.8 billion Eastern Caribbean dollars) at the end of the last reported year of 2019. The reserve requirement for commercial banks was six percent of deposit liabilities. Saint Kitts and Nevis is well served by bank and non-bank financial institutions. There are minimal alternative financial services. Some citizens still participate in informal community group lending.The Caribbean region has witnessed a withdrawal of correspondent banking services by U.S., Canadian, and European banks due to risk management concerns. CARICOM remains committed to engaging with key stakeholders on the issue and appointed a Committee of Ministers of Finance on Correspondent Banking to monitor the issue.Bitt, a wholly U.S. owned company founded in Barbados, developed digital currency DCash in partnership with the ECCB. The first successful DCash retail central bank digital currency (CDBC) consumer-to-merchant transaction took place in Grenada in February 2021 following a multi-year development process. The ECCB and BITT signed a memorandum of understanding in March 2018 and launched their fintech pilot project and regulatory sandbox in four member countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Saint Lucia a year later. In March 2021, DCash was officially rolled out in Saint Kitts and Nevis. After some challenges in early 2022, the DCash online platform remained online and available for transactions during the reporting period.In 2020, Saint Kitts and Nevis enacted the Virtual Assets Business Bill. A further amendment was made in 2021 to regulate virtual currencies with the expectation that they will become increasingly prevalent. The bill is intended to facilitate the ease of doing business in a cashless society, and to combat theft, fraud, money laundering, Ponzi schemes, and terrorist financing. All businesses in this sector must register under this act. This bill was drafted by the ECCB.																																				Foreign Exchange and Remittances																										Foreign Exchange						Saint Kitts and Nevis is a member of the ECCU and the ECCB. The currency of exchange is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD). As a member of the OECS, Saint Kitts and Nevis has a fully liberalized foreign exchange system. The Eastern Caribbean dollar was pegged to the United States dollar at a rate of XCD 2.70 to $1.00 in 1976. As a result, the Eastern Caribbean dollar does not fluctuate, creating a stable currency environment for trade and investment in Saint Kitts and Nevis.						Remittance Policies						Companies registered in Saint Kitts and Nevis have the right to repatriate all capital, royalties, dividends, and profits. There are no restrictions on the repatriation of dividends for totally foreign-owned firms. A mixed foreign-domestic company may repatriate profits to the extent of its foreign participation.As a member of the OECS, there are no exchange controls in Saint Kitts and Nevis and the invoicing of foreign trade transactions are allowed in any currency. Importers are not required to make prior deposits in local funds and export proceeds do not have to be surrendered to government authorities or to authorized banks. There are no controls on transfers of funds. Saint Kitts and Nevis is a member of the CFATF.In 2016, the government signed an Intergovernmental Agreement in observance of FATCA, making it mandatory for banks in Saint Kitts and Nevis to report the banking information of U.S. citizens.The country passed the Anti-Money Laundering Bill, 2019. The stated intent of this bill is to begin to bring the country into alignment with international standards for combating money laundering. Saint Kitts and Nevis also passed the Proceeds of Crime and Asset Recovery Bill, 2019, which aims to provide the government with an additional tool to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.																										Sovereign Wealth Funds										Neither the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis, nor the ECCB, of which Saint Kitts and Nevis is a member, maintains a sovereign wealth fund.																																												7. State-Owned Enterprises						    																						State-owned enterprises (SOEs) in Saint Kitts and Nevis work in partnership with ministries, or under their remit to carry out certain specific ministerial responsibilities.  There are currently ten SOEs in Saint Kitts and Nevis in areas such as tourism, investment services, broadcasting and media, solid waste management, and agriculture.  They are all wholly owned government entities.  Each is headed by a board of directors to which senior managers report.  A list of SOEs can be found at   http://www.gov.kn  .																										Privatization Program										Saint Kitts and Nevis does not currently have a targeted privatization program.																																												8. Responsible Business Conduct						    																						The private sector is involved in projects that benefit society, including support of environmental, social, and cultural causes. The government encourages corporate social responsibility but does not have regulations in place to mandate such activities by private companies.																										Additional Resources										Department of StateCountry Reports on Human Rights Practices ( https://www.state.gov/reports-bureau-of-democracy-human-rights-and-labor/country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/)Trafficking in Persons Report ( https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/)Guidance on Implementing the &#8220;UN Guiding Principles&#8221; for Transactions Linked to Foreign Government End-Users for Products or Services with Surveillance Capabilities ( https://www.state.gov/key-topics-bureau-of-democracy-human-rights-and-labor/due-diligence-guidance/)U.S. National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises ( https://www.state.gov/u-s-national-contact-point-for-the-oecd-guidelines-for-multinational-enterprises/)Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory ( https://www.state.gov/xinjiang-supply-chain-business-advisory/)Department of the TreasuryOFAC Recent Actions ( https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions )Department of LaborFindings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor Report ( https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings  )List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor ( https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/reports/child-labor/list-of-goods )Sweat &amp; Toil: Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking Around the World ( https://www.dol.gov/general/apps/ilab )Comply Chain ( https://www.dol.gov/ilab/complychain/ )																																				Climate Issues										Saint Kitts and Nevis has a national climate strategy via its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), submitted in 2021, and is currently finalizing a national adaptation plan for which it has received funding under the Green Climate Fund. It does not have a specific strategy for monitoring natural capital. The NDC includes a pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent by 2030 and has identified several mitigation strategies to achieve this goal. These include an effort to transition to 100 percent renewable energy by 2030, improvements to efficiency in electricity transmission and distribution, and development of electric vehicle infrastructure. The government hopes to receive substantial external support, primarily from the international community, in pursuit of these goals. The government offers incentives for investors in the renewable energy sector, including exemption of import duties on related inputs. The government has listed renewable energy projects that are available for investment. The full list is available at  https://investstkitts.kn/ . Beyond the previously mentioned investment incentives, there are no current regulatory incentives in place to achieve policy outcomes that preserve biodiversity, clean air, and other desirable ecological benefits. Public procurement policies do not currently consider environmental and green growth considerations.																																												9. Corruption						    																						A new Anti-Corruption bill was passed in March 2023. The law provides criminal penalties for official corruption and also creates an office of a special prosecutor. The government has also passed an amended integrity in public life act which provides for a code of conduct and declarations of interest for public officials. The government generally implements these laws effectively. Media and private citizens reported government corruption was a problem.The Financial Intelligence Unit and the police force’s white-collar crime unit investigate reports on suspicious financial transactions, but these reports were not available to the public.Government agencies involved in enforcement of anti-corruption laws include the Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force, the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the Financial Intelligence Unit. The Financial Intelligence Unit investigates financial crimes, but no independent body has been established to handle allegations of government corruption.RESOURCES TO REPORT CORRUPTIONSimone Bullen-ThompsonSolicitor-GeneralLegal DepartmentChurch Street, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and NevisTel: 1-869-465-2170Email:  simone_bullen@hotmail.com Justice Pearletta LannsChairmanIntegrity CommissionTel: 1-869-466-6436 or 1-869-466-6915Email:  admin@iplskn.org 																																		10. Political and Security Environment						    																						Saint Kitts and Nevis does not have a recent history of politically motivated violence or civil disturbance. Saint Kitts and Nevis’ general elections are constitutionally due in 2027.																																		11. Labor Policies and Practices						    																						Saint Kitts and Nevis has a labor force of approximately 25,000 with a literacy rate of 98 percent. Local colleges largely meet the country’s technical and training needs. There is also a large pool of professionals to draw from in fields such as law, medicine, information technology, and accounting. Many of the professionals in Saint Kitts and Nevis trained in the United States, Canada, the wider Caribbean, or the UK, and often also gain work experience before returning to Saint Kitts and Nevis.The national minimum wage for all sectors of the economy was above the estimated poverty income level. The law does not prohibit excessive or compulsory overtime, but policy calls for employers to inform employees if they must work overtime. Although not required by law, workers generally received at least one 24-hour rest period per week. The law provides for a 40-hour workweek and for premium pay for work above the standard workweek. The law also calls for paid holidays and work on rest days to be paid at double the standard rate, as well as equal pay for equal work. The law provides for the right to form and join independent unions or staff associations and the right to collective bargaining. The government generally respected the law.The law permits police, civil servants, hotels, construction workers, and small businesses to organize staff associations. Staff associations do not have bargaining powers but are used to network and develop professional standards. A union representing more than 50 percent of employees at a company may apply for the company to recognize the union for collective bargaining. Companies generally recognized the establishment of a union if a majority of its workers voted in favor of organizing the union, but the companies are not legally obliged to do so.Although there is no legislation governing the organization and representation of workers, the constitution speaks to the freedom of association and the right to organize and collective bargaining. Saint Kitts and Nevis ratified the International Labor Organization Conventions on freedom of association and the right to organize and collective bargaining. The law permits the police, civil servants, hotel workers, construction workers, and employees of small businesses to organize staff associations. Staff associations do not have bargaining powers but are used to network and develop professional standards.The law prohibits antiunion discrimination but does not require employers found guilty of such discrimination to rehire employees fired for union activities. The government generally enforces applicable laws, and penalties were commensurate with those for other laws involving denials of civil rights, such as discrimination. The Ministry of Labor provided employers with training on their rights and responsibilities.The Labor Commissioner mediates all types of disputes between labor and management. By law, the system of industrial relations in Saint Kitts and Nevis allows for labor grievances through a process of conciliation and mediation by the Department of Labor and the Commissioner, an independent hearing, arbitration, and finally a court of law. In practice, however, few disputes go to the Commissioner for resolution. If neither the Commissioner nor the Ministry of Labor can resolve the dispute, the law allows a case to be brought before a civil court.The law does not provide remedies for labor law violations, and the Ministry of Labour does not provide information on the adequacy of resources, inspections, and penalties for violations. Penalties are outdated and fines are insufficient to deter violations. The Department of Labour provided employers with training on their rights and responsibilities.Investors in Saint Kitts and Nevis are responsible for maintaining workers’ rights and safeguarding the environment. While there are no specific health and safety regulations, the Factories Act provides general health and safety guidance to Labor Ministry inspectors. The Labor Commission settles disputes over safety conditions. Workers have the right to report unsafe work environments without jeopardy to continued employment, and workers may leave such locations without jeopardy to their continued employment.																																		12. U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and Other Investment Insurance or Development Finance Programs						    																						Saint Kitts and Nevis is classified as a high- income country under the World Bank’s definition and is ineligible for DFC programs.																																		13. Foreign Direct Investment Statistics						    																						&nbsp;Table 2: Key Macroeconomic Data, U.S. FDI in Host Country/EconomyHost Country Statistical source*USG or international statistical sourceUSG or International Source of Data:  BEA; IMF; Eurostat; UNCTAD, OtherEconomic DataYearAmountYearAmountHost Country Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ($M USD)2022$979.22021$860.8www.worldbank.org/en/country Foreign Direct InvestmentHost Country Statistical source*USG or international statistical sourceUSG or international Source of data:  BEA; IMF; Eurostat; UNCTAD, OtherU.S. FDI in partner country ($M USD, stock positions)N/AN/A2021$461.0BEA data available at https://apps.bea.gov/international/factsheet/Host country’s FDI in the United States ($M USD, stock positions)N/AN/A2021$61.0BEA data available at https://apps.bea.gov/international/factsheet/ Total inbound stock of FDI as % host GDPN/AN/A2021172.2%UNCTAD data available athttps://unctad.org/topic/investment/world-investment-report   * Source for Host Country Data: Eastern Caribbean Central Bank: https://www.eccb-centralbank.org/statistics/dashboard-datas/  Table 3: Sources and Destination of FDISaint Kitts and Nevis does not appear in the IMF’s Coordinated Direct Investment Survey (CDIS).																																		14. Contact for More Information						    																						Political/Economic SectionU.S. Embassy to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean and the Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States246-227-4000Email:  BridgetownPolEcon@state.gov 																										    							View report by:																				Albania											Algeria											Andorra											Angola											Antigua and Barbuda											Argentina											Armenia											Australia											Austria											Azerbaijan											The Bahamas											Bahrain											Bangladesh											Barbados											Belarus											Belgium											Belize											Benin											Bolivia											Bosnia and Herzegovina											Botswana											Brazil											Brunei											Bulgaria											Burkina Faso											Burma											Burundi											Cabo Verde											Cambodia											Cameroon											Canada											Chile											China											Colombia											Costa Rica											Côte d’Ivoire											Croatia											Cyprus											Czechia											Democratic Republic of the Congo											Denmark											Djibouti											Dominica											Dominican Republic											Ecuador											Egypt											El Salvador											Equatorial Guinea											Eritrea											Estonia											Eswatini											Ethiopia											Fiji											Finland											France and Monaco											Gabon											The Gambia											Georgia											Germany											Ghana											Greece											Grenada											Guatemala											Guinea											Guyana											Honduras											Haiti											Hong Kong											Hungary											Iceland											India											Indonesia											Iraq											Ireland											Israel											Italy											Jamaica											Japan											Jordan											Kazakhstan											Kenya											Kosovo											Kyrgyz Republic											Laos											Latvia											Lebanon											Lesotho											Liberia											Libya											Lithuania											Luxembourg											Macau											Madagascar											Malawi											Malaysia											Maldives											Mali											Malta											Marshall Islands											Mauritania											Mauritius											Mexico											Micronesia											Moldova											Mongolia											Montenegro											Morocco											Mozambique											Namibia											Nepal											Netherlands											New Zealand											Nicaragua											Niger											Nigeria											North Macedonia											Norway											Oman											Pakistan											Palau											Panama											Papua New Guinea											Paraguay											Peru											Philippines											Poland											Portugal											Qatar											Republic of the Congo											Romania											Rwanda											Saint Kitts and Nevis											Saint Lucia											Saint Vincent and the Grenadines											Samoa											Sao Tome and Principe											Saudi Arabia											Senegal											Serbia											Seychelles											Sierra Leone											Singapore											Slovakia											Slovenia											Somalia											South Africa											South Korea											South Sudan											Spain											Sri Lanka											Suriname											Sweden											Switzerland											Taiwan											Tajikistan											Tanzania											Thailand											Timor-Leste											Togo											Trinidad and Tobago											Tunisia											Türkiye											United Arab Emirates											Uganda											Ukraine											United Kingdom											Uruguay											Uzbekistan											Vietnam											West Bank and Gaza											Zambia											Zimbabwe															Build A Custom Report																						On This Page				search													>																										EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																1. Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment																																							Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment																																																						Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment																																																						Other Investment Policy Reviews																																																						Business Facilitation																																																						Outward Investment																																																			2. Bilateral Investment and Taxation Treaties																																							Saint Kitts and Nevis is also party to the following:																																																				Caribbean Community (CARICOM)																																												Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)																																												Caribbean Basin Initiative																																												CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement																																												CARIFORUM-UK Economic Partnership Agreement																																												Caribbean-Canada Trade Agreement																																																																																	3. Legal Regime																																							Transparency of the Regulatory System																																																						International Regulatory Considerations																																																						Legal System and Judicial Independence																																																						Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment																																																						Citizenship by Investment																																																						Competition and Antitrust Laws																																																						Expropriation and Compensation																																																						Dispute Settlement																																																				ICSID Convention and New York Convention																																												Investor-State Dispute Settlement																																												International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts																																																																																				Bankruptcy Regulations																																																			4. Industrial Policies																																							Investment Incentives																																																						Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation																																																						Performance and Data Localization Requirements																																																			5. Protection of Property Rights																																							Real Property																																																						Intellectual Property Rights																																																			6. Financial Sector																																							Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment																																																						Money and Banking System																																																						Foreign Exchange and Remittances																																																				Foreign Exchange																																												Remittance Policies																																																																																				Sovereign Wealth Funds																																																			7. State-Owned Enterprises																																							Privatization Program																																																			8. Responsible Business Conduct																																							Additional Resources																																																						Climate Issues																																																			9. Corruption																10. Political and Security Environment																11. Labor Policies and Practices																12. U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and Other Investment Insurance or Development Finance Programs																13. Foreign Direct Investment Statistics																14. Contact for More Information																						Tags																					Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs																								Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs																								Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Press briefing with Todd D. Robinson, Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Todd D.  Robinson, Assistant SecretaryBureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement AffairsMODERATOR:  Greetings to everyone from the U.S. Department of State’s Media Hub of the Americas in Miami, Florida.  I would like to welcome our participants who have dialed in from the United States and across the region.  This is an on-the-record press briefing with the Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Todd D. Robinson. Assistant Secretary Robinson will discuss outcomes from Friday’s virtual ministerial to launch a Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats as well as next steps for the global coalition.  This coalition seeks to unite countries worldwide in a concerted effort to prevent the illicit manufacture and trafficking of synthetic drugs, identify emerging drug trends, and respond effectively to their public health impacts. As a reminder, today’s briefing is on the record.  And with that, I will turn it over to Assistant Secretary Robinson. ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Thank you for joining this call today and for the opportunity to discuss the collective efforts we have undertaken to confront the important issue of synthetic drugs. Last Friday, as you know, Secretary Blinken hosted a virtual ministerial to launch a Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats.  Nearly 100 countries and international organizations participated in the launch, underscoring the shared concern about this public health and national security threat.  The coalition aims to unite countries worldwide in a concerted effort to combat the illicit manufacture and trafficking of synthetic drugs.  Together, we hope to strengthen efforts to prevent the production and trafficking of illicit synthetic drugs, identify emerging synthetic drug trends and use patterns, and promote efforts to respond effectively to the public health impacts they impose. Participants at the ministerial underscored the importance of sharing data and increasing efforts to mitigate the health impact of synthetic drug use.  As you all already know, synthetic drugs such as fentanyl and methamphetamine pose a grave risk to the health and security of our citizens here in the United States.  The consequences of these drugs are devastating as evidenced by the alarming statistics. In 2022, the CDC estimated that nearly 110,000 Americans lost their lives to drug overdoses.  Recognizing the gravity of this situation, the Biden administration is fully committed to preventing drug use and minimizing its negative impact.  We understand the importance of connecting individuals to treatment and supporting the more than 20 million Americans in recovery.  President Biden’s National Drug Control Strategy has allocated a substantial $24 billion dollars in this fiscal year to strengthen drug-related public health interventions.  These measures not only safeguard the health of our citizens, but also exemplify our dedication at home as we look to other nations to also take action. It is vital to note that these dangers are not limited to the United States.  More countries than ever are facing an increasing threat from synthetic drugs like tramadol, Captagon, MDMA, and Ketamine.  Criminals are constantly innovating to create new synthetic drugs, adjusting formulas to avoid international controls and domestic regulations, and creating new demand.   One staggering number to note:  Over the past decade, more than 1,100 new synthetic drugs were detected and reported by the United Nations.  Through the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats, we are harnessing international cooperation and shared knowledge to tackle this crisis head on.  By working together, we can more effectively disrupt the illicit synthetic drug supply chains, enhance our ability to identify and respond to emerging threats, and protect the lives and well-being of our own citizens and of people around the world. The United States has already been working with partners like Mexico, Canada, and other countries to drive urgent global action to disrupt the synthetic drug trade from beginning to end.  We are engaging with countries such as India to strengthen our partnerships on securing pharmaceutical and chemical supply chains to prevent criminal diversion of dual-use precursor chemicals, and we remain committed to engaging with the PRC to address the threat illicit synthetic drugs pose to our countries.  The Department of State also works within the UN, the Organization of American States, the G7, G20, and other organizations to improve the abilities of our countries to detect and disrupt the illicit manufacturing, diversion, and trafficking of precursor chemicals and finished drugs.   We have more important work to do, so in closing, let me express my gratitude to our international partners who have already joined us in this crucial endeavor.  The fight against synthetic drugs requires a global response, and we are confident that our collective efforts will yield significant results.  Together, we can create a safer and healthier future for our citizens and generations to come.   Thank you, and I look forward to your questions.   MODERATOR:  Thank you so much, Assistant Secretary.  We will now begin the question-and-answer portion of today’s briefing.  For those on the English line asking questions, please limit yourself to one question related to the topic of today’s briefing.  If you submitted your question in advance, I have incorporated the question into the queue.  Our first question today we received from Daniel – from Jim Carson of La Jornada in Mexico:  “What specific will be new out of this declaration?  Are you setting up a FinCEN-type structure to share information, do evaluations, and a secretariat, or is it simply a reiteration of past commitments without any specific additional actions?”   ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Great question.  The first thing I would say is we are – we are building on what we have done in the past and what has been done by other countries in the past.  The coalition is intended to be an inclusive forum for sharing best practices and identifying areas for collaboration to improve the global response to public health and security threats posed by synthetic drugs.  We ask that countries commit to working collaboratively with other coalition member countries at both political and technical levels to develop a joint framework for addressing synthetic drugs and develop actions in line with that framework.  Thanks.   MODERATOR:  Thank you.  We received a question from journalist Fernando Morales from Red Salvadoreña de Medios in El Salvador: “El Salvador is a corridor for the transit of synthetic drugs like fentanyl.  How is work being done to prevent the trafficking of these narcotics?”   ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  I’m sorry.  Could you say that again?  MODERATOR:  Absolutely, Assistant Secretary.  “El Salvador is a corridor for the transit of synthetic drugs like fentanyl.  How is work being done to prevent the trafficking of these narcotics?&#8221; ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Great question.  As our correspondent will note, the United States Government on several different levels is working with members of the civilian security forces in El Salvador and throughout the region – El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras – on things like investigations, going after the trafficking networks.  We have experts on the ground from DEA and the Department of Justice.   We also work on training.  As the correspondent will note, there is an International Law Enforcement Academy hosted by the Government of El Salvador where we can do training for police and prosecutors in the region on different techniques and modernized techniques for going after these networks.  So those are ways that we are – those are ways that we are trying to get after these – shut down these corridors.   MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  The next question will go to Jesús Esquivel from Proceso Magazine in Mexico.  Jesús, please unmute yourself.   QUESTION:  Hello.  Can you hear me?   MODERATOR:  Yes.  Please ask your question.  &#8212;    QUESTION:  Okay.  Yes.  Under Secretary, there has always been the accusations that the Mexican cartels are responsible for all the synthetic drugs in the United States, but as you probably know, the domestic cartels in the U.S. are also responsible for the distributions and sale of these drugs.   My question to you is:  What exactly or when exactly the U.S. Government for the first time is going to be exposing the domestic cartels in this problem and in the United States?  And also, if you think the accusations as – members of the U.S. Congress made to Mexico and threats that they probably going to invade Mexico to stop the drug trafficking, it will help in this global coalition in the case of – specifically of Mexico to cooperate with the U.S. Government?   ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Thank you, Jesús.  Both good questions.  Look, first of all, I would – I would not exactly support the premise of your question.  We have never said that all of the fentanyl or synthetic opioids that are coming to the United States are coming from Mexico.  We know that this is a global – a global effort by cartels from different regions around the world, including criminals in the United States.  I don’t think the FBI or the Department of Justice or our local law enforcement authorities have been shy about exposing the criminal networks in the United States that are trafficking in these drugs.  I think they will continue to publicly expose them when available.  So that’s thing number one. Thing number two, we have – the United States has an excellent relationship with our counterparts in Mexico.  We are both working very close to go after the networks in Mexico, to increase our cooperation on both sides of our southwest border, your northern border.  And we are working together internationally to share our experiences with working together with other countries around the world.  I’m very proud of our relationship with our Mexican counterparts, and we’re going to continue to call on them as they call on us to work together to do more to stop – to stop this global trafficking of synthetic drugs. MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary Robison.  The next question will go to Adyr Corral from El Sol de Mexico.  Adyr, please unmute yourself.  Go ahead.  Adyr, can you hear us?   Okay, unfortunately we’re going to have to move on.  I see we have a submitted question in our Q&amp;A from Brendan O’Boyle from Reuters in Mexico City: “Thank you, Ambassador.  Within the coalition, where is there concern about fentanyl’s short-term spread geographically?  In Mexico, some experts have sounded alarm about fentanyl spreading in drug supply domestically, though data is scarce.  Have coalition partners in Mexico recognized domestic spread?” ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  I’m sorry, can you repeat that question again? MODERATOR:  Sure, sir.  “Thank you, Ambassador.  Within the coalition, where is there concern about fentanyl’s short-term spread geographically?  In Mexico, some experts have sounded the alarm about fentanyl spreading in the drug supply domestically, though data is scarce.  Have coalition partners in Mexico recognized domestic spread?” ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  The short answer is I believe the Government of Mexico has recognized the short-term spread of synthetic opioids.  We are – and – but there’s a very good relationship between our Office of National Drug Control Policy and the secretary for Health in Mexico.  They are working very closely together on campaigns to raise awareness about synthetic opioids and what can be done to avoid falling into – into that addiction.  So we feel like we have a burgeoning story to tell, a better story to tell as we go forward on our cooperation on the messaging against the domestic – in Mexico, the domestic spread of the – and growth of the use of synthetic opioids. MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  I’m told we’ve resolved the microphone issues with Adyr Corral, so we’ll go back to Adyr Corral from El Sol de Mexico.  Please unmute yourself. QUESTION:  Hi.  You can hear me? ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Yes. MODERATOR:  We can hear you. QUESTION:  Ah, thank you very much.  Sorry for the problems.  I would like to ask the assistant secretary for a comment on the initiative to designate the fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction in Congress.  How about that, Assistant Secretary? ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Thank you, great question.  We have currently – the Department of Justice, DEA, FBI, Department of State – we feel like we have the authorities necessary to go after the networks that are trafficking in these drugs.  At the moment, we don’t see that classifying fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction will give us any more authority than we already have to try to stop its trafficking.  So we feel pretty comfortable that we’re in a good place in terms of having the tools necessary to go after the drug and to go after the networks that are trafficking the drugs.  QUESTION:  Thank you very much.  MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  The next question was submitted in advance from Juan Silva from W Radio in Colombia:  “How do you assess the current situation in Colombia in terms of the fight against drugs?”  ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Well, as the correspondent, as Juan will know, we have a very long, very strong, very deep relationship with Colombia and Colombia’s security forces that has developed over a number of years.  We feel like we are – we have developed into great partners.  Colombia has become a net exporter of security globally, and that is in large part due to the very strong relationship that has developed with the United States.   Today we continue in that effort.  There are areas where we are hoping to start working – new areas where we are starting to – we want to begin working with the Petro government, and we are in constant conversation with Petro and his team to figure out how we can best help them bring greater security and safety to communities in Colombia, and by doing so, help shut down the networks that are trafficking drugs north to the United States.  Thanks.  MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.   Our next question we received from Eduard Ribas from EFE:  “What responsibility does China have on the trafficking of fentanyl precursors?  How can this coalition be successful without Chinese participation?”  ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Well, I would say the – we know good things happen when China is involved in conversations like this.  You will recall in 2019 the Chinese Government scheduled fentanyl and made it much harder to get out of the country directly and be shipped directly to other countries.  And when they did that, the trafficking of fentanyl itself in the United States from China went to almost zero.  So we think that there’s a lot more that can be done by the PRC in terms of greater monitoring and labeling and information-sharing on the precursor chemicals that are leaving the PRC, and they – we invited them to join the coalition.  We expect at some point that they will take us up on our invitation because they want to be responsible, a responsible country in this effort.  And we all know that they play – that there are companies in China that play an important role in the distribution of the precursor chemicals that go into making these drugs.  Over.  MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  We have time for about two more questions.  One was submitted in advance from a journalist in Guyana regarding CARICOM, Denis Chabrol from Demarara Waves Online News:  “How badly are Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nations affected by synthetic drugs?”  ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Thank you.  Again, this is a – that’s a great question.  I would say although we haven’t seen significant production in the Caribbean, it’s important to note that criminal chemists can easily synthesize fentanyl almost anywhere.  The Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats will provide a foundation for developing and implementing effective, practical solutions to prevent the illicit manufacture and trafficking of synthetic drugs.  It will help detect emerging drug threats, and we hope it will help respond to the – to their public health impacts.  Over. MODERATOR:  Thank you.  I see in the chat the journalist had added:  “What do we expect from CARICOM and what assistance the U.S. can provide?” ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Well, actually, I would turn it around.  The question should be:  What more can CARICOM countries do?  And I think, again, when we talk about things like exchanging information, when we talk about things like making sure that they are getting access, making sure their communities are getting access to the antidotes for overdoses, making sure that they are reporting to the international organizations that are collecting information that everybody else can use – those are the things that that we would hope we could get from countries that are involved in the global coalition.  And the United States and the international community will continue to help with training and equipping those police forces and prosecutors that are working on this issue.  Over. MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  We had a question from Martin Villena from Andina News Agency in Peru:  “Concerning the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats, does its launch also mean strengthening even more relations with countries such as Peru and Colombia, which face the issue and the related problems concerning cocaine productions in their territories?” ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Well, we’re always working to strengthening – strengthening the relationship with our good friends in Peru and Colombia.  But in fact, again, we will – what the establishment of this coalition is looking to do is to have our friends from Peru and Colombia share their experiences with other countries around the world and help other countries who don’t have the expertise that our countries do, help them address the issues in their countries.  We have great relationships with our partners in Peru and Colombia; I don’t expect that will change.  But we will – in the establishment of this coalition, we will be asking them to do more to help on a global level.  Over.   MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  We received a question from Carrie Kahn with NPR:  “How do proposals from some Republicans in the United States urging military intervention to stop fentanyl trafficking in Mexico affect your plans to enlist global partners?” ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Well, I would say we’re going to let Congress – the Senate and the House – develop and debate their own ideas.  We are going to – I am focused on working with our civilian security partners globally, making sure that they have the training, the equipment, the strategies; making sure they have access to the expertise necessary to focus on what is our responsibility, which is providing civilian security to our communities, both in the United States and around and world. MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  I believe we’ve gone through all the questions that we had today, so that will conclude today’s briefing.  I wanted to thank you for joining us today, as well as all of the journalists on the line for their questions.  If you have any follow-up questions about today’s briefing, you may contact the Miami Media Hub at MiamiHub@state.gov.  An English recording and transcript will be available for this briefing, as well as transcripts in Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese.  Thank you so much and have a good day. ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Thanks.  Thanks, everybody. 
- Saint Kitts and Nevis HomeReportsOffice of International Religious Freedom2022 Report on International Religious Freedom&#8230;Saint Kitts and Nevis				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Saint Kitts and Nevis																																					Office of International Religious Freedom																																																																																							Download Report																																																																																	 In this section										/																							Executive Summary																																													Executive Summary																															Section I. Religious Demography																																																																																		Section II. Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom																																																									Legal Framework																																																																											Government Practices																																																																																	Section III. Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom																																																																																		Section IV. U.S. Government Policy and Engagement																																																																																																								Executive Summary				The constitution provides for freedom of religion and prohibits discrimination based on religion. The government continued to ban public marijuana usage except for registered places of worship of the Rastafarian religious community or any place authorized by the Prevention and Abatement of the Misuse and Abuse of Drugs Act. In November, Deputy Prime Minister Geoffrey Hanley received bipartisan support for the government&#8217;s commitment to the Rastafarian community and to implement the 2019 court ruling allowing citizens to legally use marijuana in private spaces. In November, the National Assembly passed legislation granting the Evangelistic Faith Church legal standing and allowing it to own land. Under the previous government, the Islamic Association identified a lack of communication with government officials and expressed concerns regarding the fundamental understanding of burial rituals, availability of halal food, and health practitioners&#8217; awareness of Islamic norms.The Saint Kitts and Nevis Christian Council, which includes the Anglican, Methodist, Moravian, and Roman Catholic Churches, the Salvation Army, and the Evangelical Association, including the Church of God and Pentecostal Assemblies, continued to promote joint activities encouraging tolerance in schools and the (religious) communities in both Saint Kitts and Nevis. The Evangelical Association of Saint Kitts publicly disapproved of the ruling of the High Court of Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court that ruled criminalization of same-sex consensual sexual activity was unconstitutional, quoting a responsibility to uphold the constitution.U.S. embassy officials met with representatives of the government, including from the Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs, on issues of religious freedom, including the importance of respect for religious diversity and tolerance. During the year, embassy officials engaged with representatives of the evangelical Christian, Islamic, and Rastafarian communities. The embassy promoted National Religious Freedom Day, as well as Chinese Lunar New Year, Holi, Easter, and Ramadan on the embassy’s official social media platforms.																														Section I.													 Religious Demography												    																																															The U.S. government estimates the total population at 54,000 (midyear 2022).  According to the U.S. government, 75.6 percent of the population is Protestant, 5.9 percent Catholic, and 1.3 percent Rastafarian.  Jehovah’s Witnesses are 1.4 percent; others are 8.8 percent and state no religious affiliation, and 0.1 percent of the population does not specify.  There is also a small Muslim community on the island of Nevis.																																					Section II.													 Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom												    																																																Legal Framework										The constitution provides for freedom of religion, including the freedom of individuals to change their religion. It prohibits discrimination based on religious belief.The Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs is responsible for registering religious groups. Religious groups are not required to register but doing so provides the government with a database of contacts through which it disseminates information on government policy for religious groups. Registration also allows religious groups to act as charities and to import religious items duty-free.The constitution allows religious groups to establish and maintain schools at the groups’ own expense. Public schools offer Christian religious instruction, daily prayers, and religious assemblies. Students who do not want to attend are exempt from all religious activities. Public and private schools require vaccinations for children to attend school, but religious exemptions are permitted.The law permits the private use of marijuana outside of public places, including for religious activities, as well as in registered spaces of worship for members of the Rastafarian faith. The law does not prohibit the wearing of dreadlocks; however, businesses may restrict the practice for safety or hygiene reasons. Occupational safety and health laws require all employees, including those with dreadlocks, to cover their hair when using dangerous equipment, handling food, or undertaking health-related activities.According to enacted legislation, the evangelical community has legal standing and the right to own land.The country is not a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.																																				Government Practices										According to Protestant and evangelical Christian groups, the government took several actions to support and promote religious freedom and tolerance. Under the new government that came into office following national elections in early August, Prime Minister Drew designated Deputy Prime Minister Geoffrey Hanley as the government official responsible for Ecclesiastical and Faith-based Affairs.In August, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court ruled that the country’s law criminalizing same-sex consensual sexual activity was unconstitutional. Religious leaders led by the Evangelical Association of Saint Kitts publicly disagreed with the case and submitted an affidavit signed by 30 religious officials, who argued in support of the constitution. They stated that the moral and religious fiber of the community should influence any interpretation of the constitution and to consider the issue from a biblical standing. The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court ruled in favor of the defendant, decriminalizing same-sex consensual conduct between adults in Saint Kitts and Nevis, and it ordered the government to change its law on the subject in accordance with the ruling. By year’s end, the government had not taken action to revise the law.In November, the National Assembly passed legislation granting the Evangelistic Faith Church legal standing and allowing it to own land. The law also permitted religious organizations to sell or mortgage property as needed, as well as the ability to exchange property as needed. In October, Prime Minister Drew, along with members of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, celebrated 39 years of service to the region by participating in a worship service at the local Pentecostal Church.According to the president of the Evangelical Association and media reports, faith-based organizations and religious leaders continued to be generally supportive of the government’s policies and consultations with religious leaders.The government continued its National School Chaplaincy Program for public and private schools. The Ministry of Health continued to require immunization of all children before enrolling in school but allowed waivers for unvaccinated Rastafarian children to attend public schools. Some children of the Rastafarian community were homeschooled.Prison officials continued to allow Rastafarian prisoners to keep their dreadlocks unless they posed health-related issues or were used to transport contraband. The prison did not provide different diets based on prisoners’ religious dietary restrictions.																																					Section III.													 Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom												    																																															The Saint Kitts and Nevis Christian Council, which includes the Anglican, Methodist, Moravian, and Catholic Churches, the Salvation Army, and the Evangelical Association, including the Church of God and Pentecostal Assemblies, continued to promote joint activities that encouraged tolerance for religious diversity in schools.The president of the Evangelical Association reported interfaith dialogue between his association and the Christian Council continued to focus on other topics, including local and general elections, intergovernmental conflicts, and a legal debate on the constitutionality of the country’s law prohibiting same-sex consensual sexual activity.The small Muslim community on the island of Nevis reported it maintained excellent relations with the Christian churches on the island and felt welcomed and supported, including being invited by Christians to share in holiday celebrations.																																					Section IV.													 U.S. Government Policy and Engagement												    																																															Embassy officials engaged government representatives from the previous and current governments, including officials from the Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs, on issues of religious freedom and the importance of respect for religious diversity and tolerance.In April, embassy officials engaged with representatives of the Islamic Association in Nevis and discussed religious freedom in the country and opportunities for the promotion of religious equality.  The embassy promoted National Religious Freedom Day in January, as well as the Chinese Lunar New Year, Holi, Easter, and Ramadan, on the embassy’s official social media platforms.																																				    							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Religious Demography																																																	Section II. Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom																																							Legal Framework																																																						Government Practices																																																			Section III. Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom																																																	Section IV. U.S. Government Policy and Engagement																																																							Tags																					Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs																								Office of International Religious Freedom																																Religious Freedom																															Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Kitts and Nevis HomeReportsBureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices&#8230;Saint Kitts and Nevis				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Saint Kitts and Nevis																																					Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																																																																																							Download Report																																																							Translations																																																																 In this section										/																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																																													EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																															Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person																																																									a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings																																																																											b. Disappearance																																																																											c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses																																																																			Prison and Detention Center Conditions																																																																																																																		d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention																																																																			Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees																																																																																																																		e. Denial of Fair Public Trial																																																																			Trial Procedures																																																								Political Prisoners and Detainees																																																								Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies																																																																																																																		f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence																																																																																	Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties																																																									a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media																																																																			Internet Freedom																																																																																																																		b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association																																																																											c. Freedom of Religion																																																																											d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country																																																																											e. Protection of Refugees																																																																																	Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process																																																																												Elections and Political Participation																																																																																	Section 4. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government																																																																																		Section 5. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights																																																																																		Section 6. Discrimination and Societal Abuses																																																									Women																																																																											Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination																																																																											Children																																																																											Antisemitism																																																																											Trafficking in Persons																																																																											Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics																																																																											Persons with Disabilities																																																																											Other Societal Violence or Discrimination																																																																																	Section 7. Worker Rights																																																									a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining																																																																											b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor																																																																											c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment																																																																											d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation																																																																											e. Acceptable Conditions of Work																																																																																																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY				Saint Kitts and Nevis is a multiparty parliamentary democracy and federation. The prime minister is the head of government. King Charles III is the head of state, represented by a governor general. The constitution provides the smaller island of Nevis considerable powers of self-governance under a premier. In August the federation held general elections that resulted in a changeover of the governing party. Prime Minister Terrance Drew’s party won six of the 11 seats in the legislature. Independent observers from the Organization of American States as well as the Caribbean Community organization assessed that the elections were free and fair.The security forces consist of a police force, which includes the paramilitary Special Services Unit, a drug unit, the Special Victims Unit, the Office of Professional Standards, and a white-collar crimes unit. These forces are responsible for internal security, including migration and border enforcement. Police report to the Ministry of National Security, which is under the prime minister’s jurisdiction. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the security forces. There were no reports that members of the security forces committed abuses.Significant human rights issues included criminalization of same-sex sexual conduct between men, which was the law until August, when the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court ruled the law was unconstitutional. The law was not enforced during the part of the year when it was in place.There were no reports of prosecutions or arrests of government officials for human rights violations during the year, but authorities stated they took appropriate measures to discipline officials when necessary. The government generally implemented effectively the law criminalizing official corruption.																														Section 1.													 Respect for the Integrity of the Person												    																																																a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings										There were no reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings.																																				b. Disappearance										There were no reports of disappearances by or on behalf of government authorities.																																				c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses										The constitution prohibits such practices, and there were no credible reports that government officials employed them.																Prison and Detention Center Conditions						In Saint Kitts, the prison was overcrowded, and facilities were austere.Abusive Physical Conditions:  There are two prisons in the federation, with a total designed capacity of 160 inmates.  Her Majesty’s Prison in Saint Kitts, built in 1840 and originally designed for 60 inmates, held approximately 320 inmates, including pretrial detainees confined with convicted prisoners.  Most prisoners had beds, although some slept on blankets on the floor.  Inmates between ages 16 and 21 were held with adult prisoners.Administration:  Authorities generally investigated credible allegations of mistreatment.Independent Monitoring:  Authorities generally permitted prison visits by independent human rights observers, although there were no known visits during the year.																										d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention										The constitution prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention and provides for the right of any person to challenge the lawfulness of his or her arrest or detention in court.  The government generally observed these requirements.																Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees						Police may arrest a person without a warrant, based on the suspicion of criminal activity.  The law requires that detained persons be charged within 72 hours or be released.  If detainees are charged, authorities must bring them before a court within 72 hours of detention.  The government respected these rights.  There is a functioning bail system.  Detainees have prompt access to a lawyer of their choice or to a lawyer provided by the state.  The government provides free defense counsel to indigent defendants only in capital cases.  There is a private legal-aid program to provide legal assistance to indigent defendants.Authorities remanded persons accused of serious offenses to custody to await trial.  They released those accused of minor infractions on their own recognizance or on bail with sureties.Pretrial Detention:  Pretrial detainees were 30 percent of the prison population.  The length of time a person was held in pretrial detention varied.  The government did not report on the average length of pretrial detention.  Nongovernmental organization (NGO) representatives reported pretrial detentions of six to nine months for High Court cases.																										e. Denial of Fair Public Trial										The constitution provides for an independent judiciary, and the government generally respected judicial independence and impartiality.																Trial Procedures						The constitution provides for the right to a fair and public trial, and the judiciary generally enforced this right.						Political Prisoners and Detainees						There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees.						Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies						There is an independent and impartial judiciary for civil matters.  Individuals or organizations may seek civil remedies for human rights violations through domestic courts and the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal.																										f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence										The constitution prohibits such actions, and there were no reports the government failed to respect these prohibitions.																																					Section 2.													 Respect for Civil Liberties												    																																																a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media										The constitution provides for freedom of expression, including for members of the press and other media, and the government generally respected this right.  An independent press, an effective judiciary, and a functioning democratic political system combined to promote freedom of expression, including for members of the media.																Internet Freedom						The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content, and there were no credible reports that the government monitored private online communications without appropriate legal authority.																										b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association										The constitution provides for the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights. Civil servants are restricted from participating in protests.																																				c. Freedom of Religion										See the Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report at  https://www.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/.																																				d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country										The law provides for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these related rights.																																				e. Protection of Refugees										Information on the government’s cooperation with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees was unavailable.Access to Asylum: While the law provides for the granting of asylum or refugee status, the government has not established a system for providing protection to refugees. There were no requests for asylum reported during the year.																																					Section 3.													 Freedom to Participate in the Political Process												    																																															The constitution provides citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage.  Voters elect 11 members of the National Assembly, and the governor general appoints a three-person senate:  two on the recommendation of the prime minister and one on the recommendation of the opposition leader.																																				Elections and Political Participation										Recent Elections: General elections were held on August 5. Prime Minister Terrance Drew led the Saint Kitts and Nevis Labour Party in winning six of eight seats in Saint Kitts. Former Foreign Minister Mark Brantley’s party won all three seats in Nevis, where he was also premier of the semiautonomous local government. Official electoral observer missions from the Organization of American States and Caribbean Community organization (CARICOM) described the elections as peaceful, and free and fair.Participation of Women and Members of Minority Groups: No laws limit participation of women or members of minority groups in the political process, and they did participate.																																					Section 4.													 Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government												    																																															The law provides criminal penalties for corruption by officials, and the government generally implemented the law effectively.  Media and private citizens reported government corruption was occasionally a problem.Corruption:  Members of the government expressed concern regarding the lack of financial oversight of revenues generated by the citizenship by investment (CBI) program.  During the year, the CBI unit held consultations to discuss best practices and improve the security of the CBI program.  The government did not publicize the number of passports issued through CBI or the nationalities of the passport holders.																																					Section 5.													 Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights												    																																															The country had a small number of domestic human rights groups that generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases.  Government officials were generally cooperative and responsive to their views.Government Human Rights Bodies:  The Ministry of Health maintained a human rights desk to monitor discrimination and other human rights abuses beyond the health sector.  The law permits this office to investigate any administrative action of an authority for the purpose of deciding whether there is evidence of maladministration on the part of the authority.  It was unknown if the Office of the Ombudsman remained active and functioning during the year.																																					Section 6.													 Discrimination and Societal Abuses												    																																																Women										Rape and Domestic Violence: The law classifies sexual violence, rape, and incest as serious offenses and establishes penalties for perpetrators. The law prohibits rape of women but does not address spousal rape. The law utilizes an “unnatural offenses” statute to address male rape. Penalties for rape range from two years’ imprisonment for incest between minors to life imprisonment. Indecent assault has a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment. There is no statute of limitations for prosecuting sexual offenses. The law criminalizes domestic violence, including emotional abuse, and provides for a fine or six months in prison. The government enforced the law.Court cases and anecdotal evidence suggested that rape, including spousal rape, was a problem. Violence against women and girls was a serious and underreported problem. Advocates indicated they believed the true number of domestic violence and violence against women cases was likely higher than reported but that many victims were reluctant to file reports due to the belief that they would not be protected or that their abusers would not be prosecuted. In July, the Department of Gender conducted a gender-based violence awareness workshop to improve public education on the issue and advocate for and support victims and survivors affected. National data from the Saint Kitts and Nevis Special Victims Unit revealed that reported cases had consistently increased. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of reported cases increased from 87 cases in 2019 to 359 in 2020.Sexual Harassment: The law does not explicitly prohibit sexual harassment in the workplace. Sexual harassment cases are instead prosecuted under the Protection of Employment Act. The press reported that sexual harassment occurred in the workplace.Reproductive Rights: There were no reports of coerced abortion or involuntary sterilization on the part of government authorities.Contraception was widely available, including emergency contraception, as part of family planning methods. There were no legal or social barriers to accessing contraception, but some religious beliefs and cultural barriers limited its usage. Survivors of sexual violence could access services from any public hospital. Emergency contraception was available with a doctor’s prescription.Discrimination: The law provides women the same legal status and rights as men, including under family, religious, personal status, and nationality laws, as well as in property, inheritance, employment, and owning or managing a business. In the labor sector, women are legally restricted from working in some industries, including mining, construction, factories, energy, and water. No law prohibits gender-based discrimination in access to credit. The law requires equal remuneration, and women and men generally received equal salaries for comparable jobs. The government effectively enforced the law.																																				Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination										The constitution expressly prohibits discrimination based on race, place of origin, birth out of wedlock, political opinions or affiliations, color, and sex or creed.There were no reports of governmental or societal violence or discrimination against members of racial, ethnic, or national minorities during the year. There were no reports of disproportionate access to education.																																				Children										Birth Registration: Children acquire citizenship by birth in the country, and all children are registered at birth without discrimination. Children born abroad to citizen parents may be registered by either parent.Child Abuse: Child abuse is illegal but was a problem. According to the government, neglect was the most common form of abuse, while physical abuse, including sexual molestation, occurred. Civil society representatives reported there was an increase in transactional sex with boys and girls and that some parents encouraged this practice.The Special Victims Unit investigated allegations of physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence, juvenile abuse, and crimes against children. The unit worked closely with the Department of Probation and Child Protection Services when there were juvenile-related matters and the Department of Gender Affairs when there were cases of domestic violence. In child abuse cases, the law allows children to testify against their alleged attackers using remote technologies such as Zoom. Other solutions, such as placing a physical barrier in the courtroom, were also employed to protect victims. The Ministry of Social Services and the Ministry of Education regularly collaborated on programs to curb child abuse.The St. Christopher Children’s Home served abused and neglected children; it received funding and logistical support from the government. The government offered counseling for both adult and child victims of abuse.Child, Early, and Forced Marriage: The legal minimum age for marriage is 18 for both men and women. Underage marriage was rare.Sexual Exploitation of Children: The law prohibits commercial sexual exploitation of children, and it was generally enforced. Child pornography is illegal and carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. NGO representatives reported that sexual exploitation and molestation of children were problems. NGO representatives also reported that adolescent transactional sex was an occasional problem. The age of consent for sexual relations is 16. Having sexual relations with children younger than age 16 is illegal.																																				Antisemitism										There was no organized Jewish community, and members of the Jewish faith reported there were no antisemitic acts.																																				Trafficking in Persons										There were no confirmed reports during the year that traffickers exploited domestic or foreign victims in Saint Kitts and Nevis or that traffickers exploited victims from Saint Kitts and Nevis abroad.																																				Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics										Criminalization: On August 29, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) struck down the law that criminalized consensual same-sex sexual conduct among men, ruling that the law violates “one’s freedom of expression and personal privacy.”Violence against LGBTQI+ Persons: The government stated it received no reports of violence or discrimination based on sexual orientation, but some observers suggested there was underreporting due to negative societal attitudes. They stated that the transgender community faced the most verbal and physical abuse and noted that they received reports of transgender persons being harassed by the police. Observers noted a case involving a police officer who was accused of assaulting a transgender individual.Discrimination: No laws prohibit discrimination against a person based on sexual orientation or gender identity in matters regarding essential goods and services and access to government services, such as health care.Availability of Legal Gender Recognition: There is no legislation on legal gender recognition.Involuntary or Coercive Medical or Psychological Practices Specifically Targeting LGBTQI+ Individuals: There were no reports of involuntary or coercive medical or psychological practices specifically targeting LGBTQI+ individuals.Restrictions on Freedom of Expression, Association or Peaceful Assembly: There were no reports of restrictions on freedom of expression, association, or peaceful assembly specifically targeting LGBTQI+ individuals.																																				Persons with Disabilities										The law does not explicitly prohibit discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, or mental disabilities. Persons with disabilities experienced discrimination, particularly with access to buildings and public transportation. The law mandates access to buildings for persons with disabilities, but it was not consistently enforced.Children with disabilities attended school, although some parents of students with disabilities preferred to have their child stay at home. There was a separate school for students with disabilities. Many local schools accommodated students with physical disabilities, but not all public schools were accessible to students with disabilities, and there was an insufficient number of teachers trained to work with disabled children. Civil society representatives reported there was no infrastructure in place to assist secondary school students with disabilities in their transition to college.The disabilities association reported that the women’s shelter facilitated services for persons with disabilities. They reported cooperating with the special victim’s unit in the police force to assist a woman with disabilities who was unaware that she was being married.																																				Other Societal Violence or Discrimination										The law prohibits discrimination based on a person’s HIV status; however, societal discrimination occurred against persons with HIV or AIDS. The Ministry of Labor enforced a specific antidiscrimination policy covering HIV and AIDS in the workplace. The national HIV and AIDS program coordinator and other health officials publicly advocated for decriminalizing homosexuality as “critical to combatting HIV/AIDS” and noted that a person’s HIV status is categorized as personal medical information and deserves the right always to be kept private and confidential. HIV and AIDS patients were often hesitant to visit public health facilities due to concern their status might be shared within their community if they were recognized during their visit.																																					Section 7.													 Worker Rights												    																																																a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining										The law provides for the right to form and join independent unions or staff associations and the right to collective bargaining. The government generally respected the law. The law permits police, civil servants, hotels, construction workers, and small businesses to organize staff associations. Staff associations do not have bargaining powers but are used to network and develop professional standards. A union representing more than 50 percent of employees at a company may apply for the company to recognize the union for collective bargaining. Companies generally recognized the establishment of a union if a majority of its workers voted in favor of organizing the union, but the companies are not legally obliged to do so.In practice, but not by law, there were restrictions on strikes by workers who provide essential services, such as police and civil servants. The law prohibits antiunion discrimination but does not require employers found guilty of such discrimination to rehire employees fired for union activities. The International Labor Organization provided technical assistance to the government in labor law reform, labor administration, employment services, labor inspection, and occupational safety and health. The government effectively enforced applicable laws, and penalties were commensurate with those for other laws involving denials of civil rights, such as discrimination. The Ministry of Labor provided employers with training on their rights and responsibilities.																																				b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor										The constitution prohibits slavery, servitude, and forced labor. The government did not report any cases of involuntary servitude. The government effectively enforced applicable laws, and penalties were commensurate with those for other laws involving denials of civil rights, such as discrimination.																																				c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment										The law prohibits the worst forms of child labor, and a Special Victims Unit, led by the Child Protection Services and police, investigated violations. The law sets the minimum age for work at 16. Prohibitions do not apply to family businesses. Children ages 16 and 17 have the same legal protections from dangerous work conditions as all workers. The law permits children from the ages of 16 to 18 to work regular hours. Employment of children ages 16 to 18 in certain industries related to the hotel and entertainment sectors is restricted. The government effectively enforced the applicable laws, and penalties were commensurate with those for analogous crimes. Most children younger than age 16 with jobs worked after school in shops and supermarkets or did light work in the informal sector.The Ministry of Labor relied heavily on school truancy officers and the Community Affairs Division to monitor compliance with child labor laws, which they did effectively. The ministry reported that investigations were frequent and that violators were referred to the Social Security Office for enforcement.																																				d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation										The law and regulations prohibit discrimination based on race, sex, gender, language, HIV-positive status or other communicable diseases, sexual orientation, gender identity, or social status. The law stipulates any employer who wrongfully terminates an employee can be fined to cover the cost of employee benefits. The government effectively enforced discrimination laws and regulations, and penalties were commensurate to those for laws related to civil rights, such as election interference.																																				e. Acceptable Conditions of Work										Wage and Hour Laws: The national minimum wage for all sectors of the economy was above the estimated poverty income level. The law does not prohibit excessive or compulsory overtime, but policy calls for employers to inform employees if they must work overtime. Although not required by law, workers generally received at least one 24-hour rest period per week.Occupational Safety and Health: The government sets occupational safety and health (OSH) standards that were outdated but appropriate for the country’s main industries. Workers could remove themselves from situations that endangered health or safety without jeopardy to their employment, and authorities effectively protected employees in this situation. The law also requires employers to report accidents and dangerous incidents.Wage, Hour, and OSH Enforcement: The government effectively enforced minimum wage, overtime, and OSH laws, and penalties were commensurate with those for similar crimes, such as fraud. Violators are subject to fines, and repeat offenders are subject to prosecution.The Labor Commission settles disputes over OSH conditions. The office conducted regular workplace inspections. Labor inspectors have the authority to make unannounced inspections and make recommendations. The commission undertook wage inspections and special investigations when it received complaints. If the commission found that employers violated wage regulations, penalties were generally sufficient to encourage compliance. The government reported there were no violations resulting in arrests or prosecutions.Informal Sector: The informal sector was estimated to represent approximately 25 percent of GDP. The Ministry of Labor relied primarily on worker complaints to initiate inspections of facilities using informal labor.																																				    							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Respect for the Integrity of the Person																																							a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings																																																						b. Disappearance																																																						c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses																																																				Prison and Detention Center Conditions																																																																																				d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention																																																				Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees																																																																																				e. Denial of Fair Public Trial																																																				Trial Procedures																																												Political Prisoners and Detainees																																												Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies																																																																																				f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence																																																			Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties																																							a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media																																																				Internet Freedom																																																																																				b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association																																																						c. Freedom of Religion																																																						d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country																																																						e. Protection of Refugees																																																			Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process																																																				Elections and Political Participation																																																			Section 4. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government																																																	Section 5. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights																																																	Section 6. Discrimination and Societal Abuses																																							Women																																																						Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination																																																						Children																																																						Antisemitism																																																						Trafficking in Persons																																																						Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics																																																						Persons with Disabilities																																																						Other Societal Violence or Discrimination																																																			Section 7. Worker Rights																																							a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining																																																						b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor																																																						c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment																																																						d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation																																																						e. Acceptable Conditions of Work																																																									Tags																					Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																								Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs																								Saint Kitts and Nevis
- INCLE-CBSI Activities – Summative Evaluation (Summary) 
- Saint Kitts and Nevis National Day Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of StateOn behalf of the United States of America, I congratulate the people and government of Saint Kitts and Nevis on the 39th anniversary of your independence.The people of Saint Kitts and Nevis have exhibited an impressive resiliency over the past few difficult years of the COVID-19 pandemic, while standing firm in their commitment to democratic values. We value Saint Kitts and Nevis’s significant contributions as a respected member of numerous international organizations, as well as your ongoing cooperation with the United States in promoting regional security through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative. We will continue to work together through the U.S.-Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis (PACC 2030) and other initiatives to promote energy security, combat climate change, bolster food security, and encourage economic prosperity in the region.I reaffirm the U.S. commitment to fortifying the ties between our two countries and to addressing global challenges together in the years ahead.
- The Saint Kitts and Nevis Election Ned Price, Department SpokespersonThe United States congratulates the people of Saint Kitts and Nevis on their August 5 election and the Honorable Dr. Terrance Drew on his victory as Prime Minister.The United States and Saint Kitts and Nevis enjoy a strong relationship, grounded in a shared history and longstanding ties between our peoples as well as a commitment to democracy, security, and economic prosperity.  Cooperation between the United States and Saint Kitts and Nevis has strengthened public health, education, and security for both our countries.We look forward to working with Prime Minister-elect Drew to further strengthen the U.S.-Saint Kitts and Nevis relationship and move our nations toward a brighter future.&nbsp;
- Saint Kitts and Nevis HomeReportsBureau of Economic and Business Affairs2022 Investment Climate Statements&#8230;Saint Kitts and Nevis				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2022 Investment Climate Statements: Saint Kitts and Nevis																																																																																												 In this section										/																							Executive Summary																																													Executive Summary																															1. Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment																																																									Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment																																																																											Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment																																																																											Other Investment Policy Reviews																																																																											Business Facilitation																																																																											Outward Investment																																																																																	2. Bilateral Investment Agreements and Taxation Treaties																																																																												Caribbean Community (CARICOM)																																																																											Organization of Eastern Caribbean States																																																																											CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement																																																																											CARIFORUM-UK Economic Partnership Agreement																																																																											CARIFORUM-UK Economic Partnership Agreement																																																																											Caribbean Basin Initiative																																																																											Caribbean/Canada Trade Agreement																																																																																	3. Legal Regime																																																									Transparency of the Regulatory System																																																																											International Regulatory Considerations																																																																											Legal System and Judicial Independence																																																																											Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment																																																																											Competition and Anti-Trust Laws																																																																											Expropriation and Compensation																																																																											Dispute Settlement																																																																			ICSID Convention and New York Convention																																																								Investor-State Dispute Settlement																																																								International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts																																																																																																																		Bankruptcy Regulations																																																																																	4. Industrial Policies																																																									Investment Incentives																																																																											Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation																																																																											Performance and Data Localization Requirements																																																																																	5. Protection of Property Rights																																																									Real Property																																																																											Intellectual Property Rights																																																																																	6. Financial Sector																																																									Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment																																																																											Money and Banking System																																																																											Foreign Exchange and Remittances																																																																			Foreign Exchange																																																								Remittance Policies																																																																																																																		Sovereign Wealth Funds																																																																																	7. State-Owned Enterprises																																																																												Privatization Program																																																																																	8. Responsible Business Conduct																																																																												Additional Resources																																																																											Climate Issues																																																																																	9. Corruption																																																																												Resources to Report Corruption																																																																																	10. Political and Security Environment																																																																																		11. Labor Policies and Practices																																																																																		12. U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and Other Investment Insurance Programs																																																																																		13. Foreign Direct Investment and Foreign Portfolio Investment Statistics																																																																																		14. Contact for More Information																																																																																																								Executive Summary				The Federation of St. Christopher and Nevis (St. Kitts and Nevis) is a member of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU).  The government seeks to facilitate a conducive business climate to attract more foreign investment.  St. Kitts and Nevis remains vulnerable to external shocks such as climate change impacts, natural disasters, and global economic downturns.  According to Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) figures, the economy of St. Kitts and Nevis had an estimated GDP of $745 million (2 billion Eastern Caribbean dollars) in 2021, after contracting in 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting impact on the tourism sector.  The IMF forecasts real GDP growth of 10 percent in 2022, effectively reversing this contraction.The COVID-19 pandemic significantly reduced the economic gains St. Kitts and Nevis had made in recent years.  The impact of the pandemic on tourism, a mainstay of St. Kitts and Nevis’s economy that generates over 60 percent of GDP, has had ripple effects across the economy.  The government has introduced measures to protect workers and key economic sectors. After the introduction of vaccines in 2021 the government lifted a strict quarantine for visitors, effectively rebooting the tourism industry.St. Kitts and Nevis has identified priority sectors for investment.  These include financial services, tourism, real estate, agriculture, information technology, education services, renewable energy, and limited light manufacturing.The government provides some investment incentives for businesses that are considering establishing operations in St. Kitts or Nevis, encouraging both domestic and foreign private investment.  Foreign investors can repatriate all profits, dividends, and import capital.The country’s legal system is based on British common law.  It does not have a bilateral investment treaty with the United States.  It has a Double Taxation Agreement with the United States, although the agreement only addresses social security benefits.In 2016, St. Kitts and Nevis signed an Intergovernmental Agreement in observance of the U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), making it mandatory for banks in St. Kitts and Nevis to report banking information of U.S. citizens.Table 1: Key Metrics and RankingsMeasureYearIndex/RankWebsite AddressTI Corruption Perceptions IndexN/AN/Ahttp://www.transparency.org/research/cpi/overviewGlobal Innovation IndexN/AN/Ahttps://www.globalinnovationindex.org/analysis-indicatorU.S. FDI in partner country ($M USD, historical stock positions)2019476http://www.bea.gov/international/factsheet/World Bank GNI per capita ($M USD)202019,080http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GNP.PCAP.CD																																					1. Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment						    																																																Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment										The government of St. Kitts and Nevis strongly encourages foreign direct investment, particularly in industries that create jobs, earn foreign currency, and have a positive impact on its citizens.The country is home to the ECCB, the Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange (ECSE), and the Eastern Caribbean Securities Regulatory Commission.In the federation, each island has a separate investment promotion agency, the St. Kitts Investment Promotion Agency (SKIPA), and the Nevis Investment Promotion Agency (NIPA).  Both agencies have introduced several investment incentives for businesses that consider locating in the federation.  SKIPA and NIPA provide “one-stop shop” facilitation services to investors, guiding them through the various stages of the investment process.The government encourages investment in all sectors, but targeted sectors include financial services, tourism, real estate, agriculture, information and communication technologies, international education services, renewable energy, ship registries, and limited light manufacturing.																																				Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment										Local laws do not dictate any limits on foreign control in St. Kitts and Nevis.  Foreign investors may hold up to 100 percent of an investment.  Local enterprises generally welcome joint ventures with foreign investors to access technology, expertise, markets, and capital.Foreign investment in St. Kitts and Nevis is generally not subject to any restrictions, and foreign investors receive the same treatment as citizens.  The only exception to this is the requirement that foreign investors obtain an Alien Landholders License to purchase residential or commercial property.																																				Other Investment Policy Reviews										The OECS, of which St. Kitts and Nevis is a member, has not conducted a World Trade Organization (WTO) trade policy review in the last three years. No civil society organization has provided a review of investment policy-related concerns.																																				Business Facilitation										SKIPA and NIPA facilitate domestic and foreign direct investment in priority sectors and advise the government on the formation and implementation of policies and programs to attract investment.  Both agencies provide business support services and market intelligence to investors.Businesses must register with the Financial Services Regulatory Commission, the Registrar of Companies, the Ministry of Finance, the Inland Revenue Department, and the Social Security Board. It is not mandatory to use an attorney prepare to incorporation documents.																																				Outward Investment										Local laws do not place any restrictions domestic investors seeking to do business abroad.  Local companies in St. Kitts and Nevis are actively encouraged to take advantage of export opportunities specifically related to the country’s membership in the OECS Economic Union and the Caribbean Community Single Market and Economy (CSME), which enhance the competitiveness of the local and regional private sectors across traditional and emerging high-potential markets.																																												2. Bilateral Investment Agreements and Taxation Treaties						    																																															St. Kitts and Nevis does not have a bilateral investment treaty with the United States.  It has a Double Taxation Agreement with the United States, but this agreement is limited solely to social security benefits.  St. Kitts and Nevis’s Double Taxation Agreements meet Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) standards, as well as Tax Information Exchange Agreements standards.  St. Kitts and Nevis maintains double taxation agreements with several countries including Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and the UK.  It has Double Taxation Conventions (DTCs) with Monaco, San Marino, and some Caribbean Community countries.  St. Kitts and Nevis is a member of the OECD Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting and is party to the OECD’s October 2021 deal on the two-pillar solution to global tax challenges, including a global minimum corporate tax. St. Kitts and Nevis is also  party  to the following agreements:																																				Caribbean Community (CARICOM)										The Treaty of Chaguaramas established the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to promote economic integration among its 15 member states.  Investors operating in St. Kitts and Nevis have preferential access to the entire CARICOM market.  The Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas established the CSME, which permits the free movement of goods, capital, and labor within CARICOM member states.																																				Organization of Eastern Caribbean States										The Revised Treaty of Basseterre established the OECS.  The OECS consists of seven full members: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and four associate members: Anguilla, Martinique, Guadeloupe, and the British Virgin Islands.  The OECS aims to promote harmonization among member states concerning foreign policy, defense and security, and economic affairs.  The six independent countries of the OECS ratified the Revised Treaty of Basseterre, establishing the OECS Economic Union in 2011.  The Economic Union established a single financial and economic space within which all factors of production, including goods, services, and people, move without hindrance.																																				CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement										The European Community and the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) the CARICOM states signed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in 2008.  CARIFORUM consists of the independent Anglophone CARCOM member states, the Dominican Republic, and Suriname. The overarching objectives of the EPA are to alleviate poverty in CARIFORUM states, to promote regional integration and economic cooperation, and to foster the gradual integration of the CARIFORUM states into the world economy by improving their trade capacity and creating investment-conducive environments.  The EPA promotes trade-related developments in areas such as competition, intellectual property, public procurement, the environment, and protection of personal data.																																				CARIFORUM-UK Economic Partnership Agreement										The UK and the Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM) states CARIFORUM signed an EPA in 2019, committing to trade continuity after Britain’s departure from the European Union.  The CARIFORUM-UK EPA eliminates all tariffs on all goods imported from CARIFORUM states into the UK, while Caribbean states will continue to gradually cut import tariffs on most of the region’s imports from the UK.																																				CARIFORUM-UK Economic Partnership Agreement										The UK and CARIFORUM signed an EPA in 2019, committing to trade continuity after Britain’s departure from the European Union.  The CARIFORUM-UK EPA eliminates tariffs on all goods imported from CARIFORUM states into the UK, while those Caribbean states will continue to gradually cut import tariffs on most of the region’s imports from the UK.																																				Caribbean Basin Initiative										The objective of the Caribbean Basin Initiative is to promote economic development through private sector initiatives in Central America and the Caribbean by expanding foreign and domestic investment in non-traditional sectors, diversifying economies, and expanding exports.  The Caribbean Basin Initiative permits duty-free entry of products manufactured or assembled in St. Kitts and Nevis into the United States.																																				Caribbean/Canada Trade Agreement										The Caribbean/Canada Trade Agreement (CARIBCAN) is an economic and trade development assistance program for Commonwealth Caribbean countries.  Through CARIBCAN, Canada provides duty-free access to its national market for most products originating in Commonwealth Caribbean countries.																																												3. Legal Regime						    																																																Transparency of the Regulatory System										The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis provides a legal framework to foster competition and establish clear rules for foreign and domestic investors in the areas of tax, labor, environment, health, and safety.  The St. Kitts Ministry of Finance and SKIPA and the Nevis Ministry of Finance and NIPA provide oversight of the system’s transparency as it relates to investment. The government does not promote or require environmental, social, and governance disclosures by companies.The incorporation and registration of companies differs somewhat on the country’s two constituent islands.  In St. Kitts, the Companies Act regulates the process.  In Nevis, the Nevis Island Business Corporation Ordinance regulates the incorporation of companies.  There are no nationality restrictions for directors in a company, and in general, national treatment is applied.  All registered companies must have a registered office in St. Kitts and Nevis.Rulemaking and regulatory authority lies with the unicameral parliament of St. Kitts and Nevis.  The parliament consists of 11 members elected in single-seat constituencies (eight from St. Kitts and three from Nevis) for a five-year term.Although St. Kitts and Nevis does not have legislation that guarantees access to information or freedom of expression, access to information is generally available in practice.  The government maintains an information service and a website where it posts information such as directories of officials and a summary of laws and press releases.  The government budget and limited debt obligation information are available on the website:  https://www.gov.kn/ .  Accounting, legal, and regulatory procedures are generally transparent and consistent with international norms.  The International Financial Accounting Standards, which stem from the General Accepted Accounting Principles, govern the accounting profession in St. Kitts and Nevis.The independent Office of the Ombudsman guards against abuses by government officers in the performance of their duties.  The Ombudsman is responsible for investigating any complaint relating to any decision or act of any government officer or body in any case in which a member of the public claims to be aggrieved or appears to the Ombudsman to be the victim of injustice due to the exercise of the administrative function of that officer or body.Regulations are developed nationally and regionally.  Nationally, the relevant line ministry reviews regulations.  Ministries then submit the results of their reviews to the Ministry of Justice, Legal Affairs and Communications for the preparation of the draft legislation.  Subsequently, the Ministry of Justice, Legal Affairs and Communications reviews all agreements and legal commitments (national, regional, and international) to be undertaken by St. Kitts and Nevis to ensure consistency prior to finalization.  SKIPA has the main responsibility for project-level supervision, while the Ministry of Finance monitors investments to collect information for national statistics and reporting purposes. Regulatory actions under the purview of the country’s Financial Services Regulatory Commission are posted on its website.St. Kitts and Nevis’s membership in regional organizations, particularly the OECS and its Economic Union, commits it to implement all appropriate measures to ensure the fulfillment of its various treaty obligations.  For example, the Banking Act, which establishes a single banking space and the harmonization of banking regulations in the Economic Union, is uniformly in force in the eight member territories of the ECCU, although there are some minor differences in implementation from country to country.  The enforcement mechanisms of these regulations include penalties or legal sanctions.																																				International Regulatory Considerations										As a member of the OECS and the Eastern Caribbean Customs Union, St. Kitts and Nevis subscribes to a set of principles and policies outlined in the Revised Treaty of Basseterre.  The relationship between national and regional systems is such that each participating member state is expected to coordinate and adopt, where possible, common national policies aimed at the progressive harmonization of relevant policies and systems across the region.  Thus, St. Kitts and Nevis is obligated to implement regionally developed regulations, such as legislation passed under OECS authority, unless specific concessions are sought.The St. Kitts and Nevis Bureau of Standards develops, establishes, maintains, and promotes standards for improving industrial development, industrial efficiency, the health and safety of consumers, the environment, food and food products, and the facilitation of trade.  It also conducts national training and consultations in international standards practices.  As a signatory to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on the Technical Barriers to Trade, St. Kitts and Nevis, through the St. Kitts and Nevis Bureau of Standards, is obligated to harmonize all national standards to international norms to avoid creating technical barriers to trade.St. Kitts and Nevis ratified the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) in 2016.  Ratification of the Agreement is an important signal to investors of the country’s commitment to improving its business environment for trade.  The TFA aims to improve the speed and efficiency of border procedures, facilitate reductions in trade costs, and enhance participation in the global value chain.  St. Kitts and Nevis has already implemented some TFA requirements.  A full list is available at:  https://tfadatabase.org/members/saint-kitts-and-nevis.																																				Legal System and Judicial Independence										St. Kitts and Nevis bases its legal system on the British common law system.  The Attorney General, the Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC), junior judges, and magistrates administer justice in the country.  The ECSC Act establishes the Supreme Court of Judicature, which consists of the High Court and the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal.  The High Court hears criminal and civil matters and makes determinations on interpretation of the Constitution.  Parties may appeal to the ECSC, an itinerant court that hears appeals from all OECS members.  Final appeal is to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council of the UK.The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is the regional judicial tribunal.  The CCJ has original jurisdiction to interpret and apply the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.  In its appellate jurisdiction, the CCJ considers and determines appeals from CARICOM member states, which are parties to the Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice.  Currently, St. Kitts and Nevis is subject only to the original jurisdiction of the CCJ.The United States and St. Kitts and Nevis are both parties to the WTO.  The WTO Dispute Settlement Panel and Appellate Body resolve disputes over WTO agreements, while courts of appropriate jurisdiction in both countries resolve private disputes.																																				Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment										St. Kitts and Nevis’ policy is to attract foreign direct investment into the priority sectors identified under its National Diversification Strategy.  These include financial services, tourism, real estate, agriculture, information technology, education services, and limited light manufacturing.  However, investment opportunities also exist in renewable energy and other services.  The main laws concerning foreign investment include the Fiscal Incentive Act, the Hotels Aid Act, and the Companies Act.SKIPA and NIPA offer websites useful for navigating procedures and registration requirements for foreign investors at  https://investstkitts.kn  and  https://investnevis.org .  St. Kitts also offers an online investment handbook at  https://goldenbookskn.com .Under St. Kitts and Nevis’ citizenship by investment (CBI) program, foreign individuals can obtain citizenship without needing to establish residence (or gaining voting rights).  Applicants are required to undergo a due diligence process before citizenship can be granted.  A minimum investment for a single investor to qualify is $200,000 in real estate or a $150,000 contribution to the Sustainable Growth Fund. Applicants must also provide a full medical certificate and evidence of the source of funds.  Applications for CBI status for real estate projects should be submitted to SKIPA for review and processing.  Further information is available at:  http://www.ciu.gov.kn/ .																																				Competition and Anti-Trust Laws										Chapter 8 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas outlines the competition policy applicable to CARICOM states.  Member states are required to establish and maintain a national competition authority for implementing the rules of competition.  CARICOM established a Caribbean Competition Commission to apply rules of competition regarding anti-competitive cross-border business conduct.  CARICOM competition policy addresses anti-competitive business conduct such as agreements between enterprises, decisions by associations of enterprises, and concerted practices by enterprises that have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction, or distortion of competition within CARICOM, and actions by which an enterprise abuses its dominant position within CARICOM.  St. Kitts and Nevis does not have domestic legislation regulating competition.																																				Expropriation and Compensation										St. Kitts and Nevis employs eminent domain laws which allow the government to expropriate private property.  The government is required to compensate owners.  There are also laws that permit the acquisition of private businesses, and the government claims such laws are constitutional.  The concept of eminent domain and the expropriation of private property is typically governed by laws that require governments to adequately compensate owners of the expropriated property at the time of its expropriation or soon thereafter.  In some cases, the procedure for compensation of owners favors the government valuation.The U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown is aware of two separate and outstanding cases involving the seizure of private land by the government.In the first case, the government of St. Kitts and Nevis was ordered in 2013 to pay a judgement to the American claimant in a series of installments. After completing the first two installments to the American claimant in 2013 and 2014, the government subsequently defaulted. Although a local court ordered the government to pay the 2015 and 2016 installments, it has yet to do so. The government alleges that another individual has made a claim on part of the property and that it must wait until a court determines the outcome of the other claim before completing payments to the American claimant. In 2020, a court ruled that the balance of payment due was to be deposited by the government into a court-controlled account to facilitate payment upon resolution of the other property claim. During the reporting period, the government did not deposit the balance into a court-controlled account. By the end of 2021, no further payments had been made to the estate of the American claimant. The court case deciding on the competing claim has not yet been scheduled.In the second case, in 2015, an American company signed an agreement with the government to provide 2 million gallons of water. According to the American company, the government expropriated the company’s drilling equipment in 2018 without compensation. In 2019, the government agreed to pay a $1 million settlement to the company and to deposit an additional $500,000 into an escrow account. The company subsequently agreed to a settlement of $750,000 in addition to the escrow deposit. Although the government agreed to the payments, it has not released the funds. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an additional agreement was reached between the parties in December 2020, regarding the delivery of water and the payment of all fees. The U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown continues to recommend caution when conducting business in St. Kitts and Nevis.																																				Dispute Settlement																										ICSID Convention and New York Convention						St. Kitts and Nevis is a party to the Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of Other States.  It is not a member of the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, also known as the New York Arbitration Convention.  However, as a member of the Organization of American States (OAS), St. Kitts and Nevis adheres to the New York Arbitration Convention.  The Arbitration Act is the main legislation that governs arbitration in St. Kitts and Nevis.						Investor-State Dispute Settlement						Investors are permitted to use national or international arbitration for contracts with the state.  St. Kitts and Nevis does not have a bilateral investment treaty or a free trade agreement with an investment chapter with the United States.The country’s slow court system and bureaucracy are widely seen by foreign investors as main hindrances to timely resolution of commercial disputes.  Through the Arbitration Act, the local courts recognize and enforce foreign arbitral awards issued against the government.						International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts						The ECSC is the domestic arbitration body.  Local courts recognize and enforce foreign commercial arbitral awards.  International commercial arbitration in St. Kitts and Nevis is applied under the Arbitration Act.  The ECSC’s Court of Appeal also provides mediation.																										Bankruptcy Regulations										St. Kitts and Nevis has a bankruptcy framework that grants certain rights to debtor and creditor, including the ability of creditors to pursue necessary actions to resolve outstanding debts.																																												4. Industrial Policies						    																																																Investment Incentives										To increase investment in the country, the government of St. Kitts and Nevis implemented a series of investment incentives codified in the Fiscal Incentives Act.  The Fiscal Incentives Act includes a tax holiday of up to 15 years; additional tax rebates of up to five years; exemption from customs duties on material and equipment deemed necessary to establish or update an enterprise; repatriation of profits, dividends, royalties, and imported capital by arrangement with the Ministry of Finance; and protection of investment through government agreement.  Four types of enterprises qualify for tax holidays.  The length of the tax holiday for the first three types of enterprises depends on the amount of value added in St. Kitts and Nevis.  The Fiscal Incentives Act (Amendment) Bill, 2019, amended the definition of the fourth type of enterprise, known as enclave industry.  Enclave enterprises are now permitted to sell goods within the CARICOM region and in the local market, in addition to exporting these goods.EnterpriseValue AddedMaximum Tax HolidayGroup IAt least 50 percent or more15 yearsGroup IIAt least 25 percent but less than 50 percent12 yearsGroup IIIAt least 10 percent but less than 25 percent10 yearsEnclaveEnclave15 yearsCompanies that qualify for tax holidays may import duty-free all equipment, machinery, spare parts, and raw materials used in production.The Hotels Aid Act provides relief from customs duties on items brought into the country for use in the construction, extension, and equipping of a hotel of not less than ten bedrooms.  In addition, the Income Tax Act provides special tax relief benefits for hotels of more than 30 bedrooms.  These hotels are exempt from income tax for ten years.  If the hotel contains fewer than 30 bedrooms, gains or profits are exempt from income tax for five years.Value Added Tax is levied on the total accommodation charges of a hotel or guest house and on the cost of food and beverages sold by a restaurant.  This total tax rate is ten percent.Tax laws do not require investors in St. Kitts and Nevis to pay a capital gains tax.  Qualified companies enjoy full exemption from taxes on corporate profits for a period not exceeding 15 years.  Corporate tax does not apply to exempt companies or to enterprises that were granted tax concessions.  There is no personal income tax.  Additional tax concessions are available at the end of the tax holiday period.Normally, individuals and ordinary companies remitting payments to parties outside St. Kitts and Nevis must deduct ten percent withholding tax from profits, administration, management or head office expenses, technical services fees, accounting and audit expenses, royalties, non-life insurance premiums, and rent.  However, this tax does not apply to profits of an approved enterprise such as exempt trusts, limited partnerships, companies, or foundations.The Unincorporated Business Tax Act mandates a levy on the gross revenue of services provided by professionals such as doctors, lawyers, dentists, and other specified persons listed in the schedule at a rate of four percent.The government of St. Kitts and Nevis does not issue guarantees or jointly finance foreign direct investment projects.No incentives are offered for businesses owned by underrepresented investors such as women.For 2-5MW investments in solar, wind, and waste-to-energy, 10MW investments in geothermal energy, and investments in LED and solar streetlights, the government of St. Kitts and Nevis offers exemptions from import duties and custom service charges on related equipment. Due to the small market size, these incentives have had limited impact to date on facilitating green investment.																																				Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation										There are no foreign trade zones, free ports, or special economic zones in St. Kitts and Nevis.  However, there are four fully developed industrial sites where production facilities can be constructed to specifications and leased at nominal rates.  The Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis manages and services the sites on behalf of the government.																																				Performance and Data Localization Requirements										St. Kitts and Nevis does not mandate local employment.  The provisions of the Labor Code outline the requirements for acquiring a work permit and prohibit anyone who is not a citizen of St. Kitts and Nevis or the OECS from engaging in employment without a work permit.  When St. Kitts and Nevis grants work permits to senior management because no qualified nationals are available for the post, the government may recommend a counterparty trainee who is a citizen.  There are no excessively onerous visa, residency, or work permit requirements.As a member of the WTO, St. Kitts and Nevis is party to the Agreement to the Trade Related Investment Measures.  While there are no formal performance requirements, the government encourages investments that will create jobs and increase exports and foreign exchange earnings.  There are no requirements for participation either by nationals or by the government in foreign investment projects. There is no requirement that enterprises must purchase a fixed percentage of goods or technology from local sources, but the government encourages local sourcing.  Foreign investors may hold up to 100 percent of an investment.  Except for the requirement to obtain an Alien Landholders License, foreign investment in St. Kitts and Nevis is not subject to any restrictions, and foreign investors receive national treatment.  There are no requirements for foreign information technology providers to turn over source code and/or provide access to surveillance.  There are no measures or draft measures that prevent or restrict companies from freely transmitting customer or other business-related data outside the country.																																												5. Protection of Property Rights						    																																																Real Property										Civil law protects physical property and mortgage claims.  Foreign investors are required to obtain an Alien Landholders License to purchase residential or commercial property.  The cost of these licenses is ten percent of the value of the land, plus fees associated with an attorney or other local service provider.  Cabinet grants these licenses.  Foreign investors are not required to pay the Alien Landholders License Tax in areas designated as special development zones, such as Frigate Bay or certain parts of the Southeast Peninsula.  The Land Registry Act of 2017 was enacted to modernize records, identify property owners, and register clear land titles.																																				Intellectual Property Rights										St. Kitts and Nevis has a legislative framework supporting its commitment to the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR).  While the legal structures governing IPR are adequate, enforcement is inconsistent.  The Intellectual Property Office of St. Kitts and Nevis (IPOSKN) is responsible for administering all laws related to IPR and overseeing the registration of patents, trademarks, and service marks.  Its website is  https://ipo.gov.kn .St. Kitts and Nevis is signatory to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, the Patent Cooperation Treaty, and the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works.  It is also a member of the UN World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).Article 66 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas establishing the CSME commits all 15 members to implement IPR protection and enforcement.  The CARIFORUM-EU EPA contains the most detailed obligations regarding IPR in any trade agreement to which St. Kitts and Nevis is party.  The CARIFORUM-EU EPA recognizes to the protection and enforcement of IPR. Article 139 of the CARIFORUM-EU EPA requires parties to “ensure an adequate and effective implementation of the international treaties dealing with intellectual property to which they are parties and of the [WTO] Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).”The Customs Department of St. Kitts and Nevis can seize prohibited or counterfeit goods.  However, the courts rule on the forfeiture and disposal of such goods.  Complainants arrange with Customs to secure the goods until a judgment is rendered.  St. Kitts and Nevis is in the process of reviewing its existing laws in relation to the importation of counterfeit and prohibited goods.St. Kitts and Nevis is not included in the United States Trade Representative (USTR) 2021 Special 301 Report or USTR’s 2020 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy.For additional information about treaty obligations and points of contact at local intellectual property offices, please see WIPO’s country profiles at  http://www.wipo.int/directory/en/ .																																												6. Financial Sector						    																																																Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment										St. Kitts and Nevis is a member of the ECCU.  As such, it is also a member of the ECSE and the Regional Government Securities Market.  The ECSE is a regional securities market established by the ECCB and licensed under the Securities Act of 2001, a uniform regional body of legislation governing the buying and selling of financial products for the eight member territories.  In 2021, the ECSE listed 164 securities, comprising 140 sovereign debt instruments, 13 equities, and 11 corporate debt securities.  Market capitalization stood at $1.9 billion.  St. Kitts and Nevis is open to portfolio investment.St. Kitts and Nevis accepted the obligations of Article VIII of the IMF Agreement, Sections 2, 3 and 4 and maintains an exchange system free of restrictions on making payments and transfers for current international transactions.  The private sector has access to credit on the local market through loans, purchases of non-equity securities, trade credits, and other accounts receivable that establish a claim for repayment.																																				Money and Banking System										The eight participating governments of the ECCU have passed the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank Agreement Act.  The Act provides for the establishment of the ECCB, its management and administration, its currency, relations with financial institutions, relations with the participating governments, foreign exchange operations, external reserves, and other related matters.  St. Kitts and Nevis is a signatory to this agreement, and the ECCB controls St. Kitts and Nevis’s currency and regulates its domestic banks.Domestic and foreign banks can establish operations in St. Kitts and Nevis.  The Banking Act requires all commercial banks and other institutions to be licensed in order to conduct any banking business.  The ECCB regulates financial institutions.  As part of ongoing supervision, licensed financial institutions are required to submit monthly, quarterly, and annual performance reports to the ECCB.  In its latest annual report, the ECCB listed the commercial banking sector as stable.  Assets of commercial banks totaled $2.5 billion (6.8 billion Eastern Caribbean dollars) at the end of 2019.St. Kitts and Nevis is well served by bank and non-bank financial institutions.  There are minimal alternative financial services.  Some citizens still participate in informal community group lending.The Caribbean region has witnessed a withdrawal of correspondent banking services by U.S. and European banks.  CARICOM remains committed to engaging with key stakeholders and appointed a Committee of Ministers of Finance on Correspondent Banking to monitor the issue.In 2019, the ECCB started an 18-month financial technology pilot to launch a Digital Eastern Caribbean dollar (DXCD) with its partner, Barbados-based Bitt Inc.  An accompanying mobile application, DCash, was officially launched in March 2021 in four pilot countries including St. Kitts and Nevis.  While initially declared a success, its platform crashed in early 2022 and remained offline for almost two months before resuming in March, raising questions about the project’s reliability. The digital Eastern Caribbean currency was intended to operate alongside physical Eastern Caribbean currency.St. Kitts and Nevis enacted the Virtual Assets Bill, 2020, to regulate virtual currencies with the expectation that they will become increasingly prevalent.  The bill is intended to facilitate the ease of doing business in a cashless society, and to combat theft, fraud, money laundering, Ponzi schemes, and terrorist financing.																																				Foreign Exchange and Remittances																										Foreign Exchange						St. Kitts and Nevis is a member of the ECCU and the ECCB.  The currency of exchange is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD).  As a member of the OECS, St. Kitts and Nevis has a fully liberalized foreign exchange system.  The XCD was pegged to the United States dollar at a rate of 2.70 Eastern Caribbean dollars to $1.00 in 1976.  As a result, the XCD does not fluctuate, creating a stable currency environment for trade and investment in St. Kitts and Nevis.						Remittance Policies						Companies registered in St. Kitts and Nevis have the right to repatriate all capital, royalties, dividends, and profits.  There are no restrictions on the repatriation of dividends for totally foreign-owned firms.  A mixed foreign-domestic company may repatriate profits to the extent of its foreign participation.As a member of the OECS, there are no exchange controls in St. Kitts and Nevis and the invoicing of foreign trade transactions are allowed in any currency.  Importers are not required to make prior deposits in local funds and export proceeds do not have to be surrendered to government authorities or to authorized banks.  There are no controls on transfers of funds.  St. Kitts and Nevis is a member of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF).The country passed the Anti-Money Laundering Bill, 2019.  The stated intent of this bill is to begin to bring the country into alignment with international standards for combating money laundering.  St. Kitts and Nevis also passed the Proceeds of Crime and Asset Recovery Bill, 2019, which aims to provide the government with an additional tool to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.In 2016, the government signed an Intergovernmental Agreement in observance of FATCA, making it mandatory for banks in St. Kitts and Nevis to report the banking information of U.S. citizens.																										Sovereign Wealth Funds										Neither the government of St. Kitts and Nevis, nor the ECCB, of which St. Kitts and Nevis is a member, maintains a sovereign wealth fund.																																												7. State-Owned Enterprises						    																																															State-owned enterprises (SOEs) in St. Kitts and Nevis work in partnership with ministries, or under their remit to carry out certain specific ministerial responsibilities.  There are currently ten SOEs in St. Kitts and Nevis in areas such as tourism, investment services, broadcasting and media, solid waste management, and agriculture.  They are all wholly owned government entities.  Each is headed by a board of directors to which senior managers report.  A list of SOEs can be found at  http://www.gov.kn .																																				Privatization Program										St. Kitts and Nevis does not currently have a targeted privatization program.																																												8. Responsible Business Conduct						    																																															The private sector is involved in projects that benefit society, including support of environmental, social, and cultural causes.  The government encourages corporate social responsibility but does not have regulations in place to mandate such activities by private companies.																																				Additional Resources										Department of StateCountry Reports on Human Rights Practices;Trafficking in Persons Report;Guidance on Implementing the &#8220;UN Guiding Principles&#8221; for Transactions Linked to Foreign Government End-Users for Products or Services with Surveillance Capabilities;U.S. National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises; and;Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory Department of the TreasuryOFAC Recent ActionsDepartment of LaborFindings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor Report;List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor;Sweat &amp; Toil: Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking Around the World and;Comply Chain.																																				Climate Issues										St. Kitts and Nevis has a national climate strategy via its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), submitted in 2021, and is currently finalizing a national adaptation plan for which it has received funding under the Green Climate Fund. It does not have a specific strategy for monitoring natural capital. The NDC includes a pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent by 2030 and has identified several mitigation strategies to achieve this goal. These include an effort to transition to 100 percent renewable energy by 2030, improvements to efficiency in electricity transmission and distribution, and development of electric vehicle infrastructure. The government hopes to receive substantial external support, primarily from the international community, in pursuit of these goals. Beyond the previously mentioned investment incentives, there are no current regulatory incentives in place to achieve policy outcomes that preserve biodiversity, clean air, and other desirable ecological benefits. Public procurement policies do not currently consider environmental and green growth considerations.																																												9. Corruption						    																																															The law provides criminal penalties for official corruption, and the government generally implements these laws effectively.  Media and private citizens reported government corruption was a problem.Public officials are not subject to financial disclosure laws.  The Financial Intelligence Unit and the police force’s white-collar crime unit investigate reports on suspicious financial transactions, but these reports were not available to the public.Government agencies involved in enforcement of anti-corruption laws include the Royal St. Kitts and Nevis Police Force, the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the Financial Intelligence Unit.  The Financial Intelligence Unit investigates financial crimes, but no independent body has been established to handle allegations of government corruption.																																				Resources to Report Corruption										Simone Bullen-ThompsonSolicitor-GeneralLegal DepartmentChurch Street, Basseterre, St. Kitts and NevisTel: 869-465-2170Email:  simone_bullen@hotmail.com																																												10. Political and Security Environment						    																																															St. Kitts and Nevis does not have a recent history of politically motivated violence or civil disturbance. St. Kitts and Nevis’ general elections are constitutionally due in 2025.																																												11. Labor Policies and Practices						    																																															St. Kitts and Nevis has a labor force of approximately 25,000 with a literacy rate of 98 percent.  Local colleges largely meet the country’s technical and training needs.  There is also a large pool of professionals to draw from in fields such as law, medicine, information technology, and accounting.  Many of the professionals in St. Kitts and Nevis trained in the United States, Canada, the wider Caribbean, or the UK, and often also gain work experience before returning to St. Kitts and Nevis.The government set the minimum wage at $3.31 an hour.  The law provides for a 40-hour workweek and for premium pay for work above the standard workweek.  There is no legal prohibition on excessive or compulsory overtime.  Although not required by law, workers generally received at least one 24-hour rest period per week.  The law also calls for paid holidays and work on rest days to be paid at double the standard rate, as well as equal pay for equal work.According to the IMF, the informal economy is among the smallest in the region and is estimated to represent no more than 25 percent of GDP. The informal economy has extremely limited impact on contracts, industry access, and other economic aspects that might impact investment opportunities.Although there is no legislation governing the organization and representation of workers, the constitution speaks to the freedom of association and the right to organize and collective bargaining.  St. Kitts and Nevis ratified the International Labor Organization (ILO) Conventions on freedom of association and the right to organize and collective bargaining.  The law permits the police, civil servants, hotel workers, construction workers, and employees of small businesses to organize staff associations.  Staff associations do not have bargaining powers but are used to network and develop professional standards.Local laws allow labor unions to organize and to negotiate for better wages and benefits for union members.  A union representing more than fifty percent of the employees at a company may apply for the company to recognize the union for collective bargaining.  Companies generally recognize the establishment of a union if the majority of its workers voted in favor of organizing the union, but the companies are not legally obligated to do so.  Collective bargaining takes place on a workplace-by-workplace basis and is not industry-wide.In practice, but not by law, there are restrictions on strikes by workers who provide essential services, such as the police and civil servants.  The law prohibits anti-union discrimination but does not require employers found guilty of such action to rehire employees who were fired for union activities.  However, the employer must pay lost wages and severance pay.  The ILO Committee of Experts reported in 2015 that workers are not protected against antiunion discrimination during recruitment or on the job.  The ILO provided technical assistance to the government in labor law reform, labor administration, employment services, labor inspection, and occupational safety and health.The Labor Commissioner mediates all types of disputes between labor and management.  By law, the system of industrial relations in St. Kitts and Nevis allows for labor grievances through a process of conciliation and mediation by the Department of Labor and the Commissioner, an independent hearing, arbitration, and finally a court of law.  In practice, however, few disputes go to the Commissioner for resolution.  If neither the Commissioner nor the Ministry of Labor can resolve the dispute, the law allows a case to be brought before a civil court.The law does not provide remedies for labor law violations, and the Ministry of Labour does not provide information on the adequacy of resources, inspections, and penalties for violations.  Penalties are outdated and fines are insufficient to deter violations.  The Department of Labour provided employers with training on their rights and responsibilities.Investors in St. Kitts and Nevis are responsible for maintaining workers’ rights and safeguarding the environment.  While there are no specific health and safety regulations, the Factories Act provides general health and safety guidance to Labor Ministry inspectors.  The Labor Commission settles disputes over safety conditions.  Workers have the right to report unsafe work environments without jeopardy to continued employment, and workers may leave such locations without jeopardy to their continued employment.																																												12. U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and Other Investment Insurance Programs						    																																															As the development bank of the United States, the DFC partners with the private sector to finance solutions in developing countries to drive economic growth, create stability, and improve livelihoods.  St. Kitts and Nevis was a qualifying country for the DFC’s predecessor agency, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation.  However, as a high-income country, it is not eligible for DFC programs.																																												13. Foreign Direct Investment and Foreign Portfolio Investment Statistics						    																																															Table 2Host Country Statistical source*USG or international statistical sourceUSG or International Source of Data:BEA; IMF; Eurostat; UNCTAD, OtherEconomic DataYearAmountYearAmount Host Country Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ($M USD)2019927.420191,053www.worldbank.org/en/countryForeign Direct InvestmentHost Country Statistical source*USG or international statistical sourceUSG or international Source of data:BEA; IMF; Eurostat; UNCTAD, OtherU.S. FDI in partner country ($M USD, stock positions)N/AN/A2020472BEA data available athttps://apps.bea.gov/international/factsheet/Host country’s FDI in the United States ($M USD, stock positions)N/AN/AN/AN/ABEA data available athttps://www.bea.gov/international/direct-investment-and-multinational-enterprises-comprehensive-dataTotal inbound stock of FDI as % host GDPN/AN/AN/AN/AUNCTAD data available athttps://unctad.org/topic/investment/world-investment-report* Source for Host Country Data: Eastern Caribbean Central Bank  https://www.eccb-centralbank.org/statistics/dashboard-datas/ .Table 3: Sources and Destination of FDISt. Kitts and Nevis does not appear in the IMF’s Coordinated Direct Investment Survey (CDIS).																																												14. Contact for More Information						    																																															Political/Economic SectionU.S. Embassy to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean and the Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States246-227-4000Email: BridgetownPolEcon@state.gov																																				    							View report by:																				Albania											Algeria											Andorra											Angola											Antigua and Barbuda											Argentina											Armenia											Singapore											Australia											Austria											Azerbaijan											Bahrain											Bangladesh											Barbados											Belarus											Belgium											Belize											Benin											Bolivia											Bosnia and Herzegovina											Botswana											Brazil											Brunei											Bulgaria											Burkina Faso											Burma											Burundi											Cabo Verde											Cambodia											Cameroon											Canada											Chad											Chile											China											Colombia											Costa Rica											Côte d’Ivoire											Croatia											Cyprus											Czechia											Democratic Republic of the Congo											Denmark											Djibouti											Dominica											Dominica											Dominican Republic											Ecuador											Egypt											El Salvador											Equatorial Guinea											Eritrea											Estonia											Eswatini											Ethiopia											Fiji											Finland											France and Monaco											Gabon											Georgia											Germany											Ghana											Greece											Grenada											Guatemala											Guinea											Guyana											Haiti											Honduras											Hong Kong											Hungary											Iceland											India											Indonesia											Iraq											Ireland											Israel											Italy											Jamaica											Japan											Jordan											Kazakhstan											Kenya											Kosovo											Kuwait											Kyrgyz Republic											Laos											Latvia											Lebanon											Lesotho											Liberia											Libya											Lithuania											Luxembourg											Macau											Malawi											Maldives											Mali											Malta											Mauritania											Mauritius											Mexico											Micronesia											Moldova											Mongolia											Montenegro											Morocco											Mozambique											Namibia											Nepal											New Zealand											Nicaragua											Niger											Nigeria											North Macedonia											Norway											Oman											Pakistan											Palau											Panama											Papua New Guinea											Paraguay											Peru											Poland											Portugal											Qatar											Republic of the Congo											Romania											Rwanda											Saint Kitts and Nevis											Saint Lucia											Saint Vincent and the Grenadines											Samoa											Sao Tome and Principe											Saudi Arabia											Senegal											Serbia											Sierra Leone											Seychelles											Slovakia											Slovenia											Somalia											South Africa											South Korea											South Sudan											Spain											Sri Lanka											Sudan											Suriname											Sweden											Switzerland and Liechtenstein											Taiwan											Tajikistan											Tanzania											Thailand											The Bahamas											The Gambia											The Netherlands											The Philippines											Timor-Leste											Togo											Trinidad and Tobago											Tunisia											Turkey											Turkmenistan											Uganda											United Arab Emirates											United Kingdom											Uruguay											Uzbekistan											Vietnam											West Bank and Gaza											Zambia											Zimbabwe															Build A Custom Report																						On This Page				search													>																										Executive Summary																1. Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment																																							Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment																																																						Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment																																																						Other Investment Policy Reviews																																																						Business Facilitation																																																						Outward Investment																																																			2. Bilateral Investment Agreements and Taxation Treaties																																																				Caribbean Community (CARICOM)																																																						Organization of Eastern Caribbean States																																																						CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement																																																						CARIFORUM-UK Economic Partnership Agreement																																																						CARIFORUM-UK Economic Partnership Agreement																																																						Caribbean Basin Initiative																																																						Caribbean/Canada Trade Agreement																																																			3. Legal Regime																																							Transparency of the Regulatory System																																																						International Regulatory Considerations																																																						Legal System and Judicial Independence																																																						Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment																																																						Competition and Anti-Trust Laws																																																						Expropriation and Compensation																																																						Dispute Settlement																																																				ICSID Convention and New York Convention																																												Investor-State Dispute Settlement																																												International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts																																																																																				Bankruptcy Regulations																																																			4. Industrial Policies																																							Investment Incentives																																																						Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation																																																						Performance and Data Localization Requirements																																																			5. Protection of Property Rights																																							Real Property																																																						Intellectual Property Rights																																																			6. Financial Sector																																							Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment																																																						Money and Banking System																																																						Foreign Exchange and Remittances																																																				Foreign Exchange																																												Remittance Policies																																																																																				Sovereign Wealth Funds																																																			7. State-Owned Enterprises																																																				Privatization Program																																																			8. Responsible Business Conduct																																																				Additional Resources																																																						Climate Issues																																																			9. Corruption																																																				Resources to Report Corruption																																																			10. Political and Security Environment																																																	11. Labor Policies and Practices																																																	12. U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and Other Investment Insurance Programs																																																	13. Foreign Direct Investment and Foreign Portfolio Investment Statistics																																																	14. Contact for More Information																																																							Tags																					Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs																								Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs																								Saint Kitts and Nevis