St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister, Dr. Terrance Drew, has made a strong appeal for the removal of visa requirements between Africa and the Caribbean, citing them as a direct impediment to trade, investment, and cultural exchange. His remarks came during a high-profile Presidential Panel on 28th July, 2025, at the Radisson Conference Centre in Grenada, as part of the fourth AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF2025).
The panel, titled “New World Order as an Opportunity for Strengthening Africa-Caribbean Trade, Investment and Cultural Relations”, was moderated by CNN anchor Zain Asher and opened with remarks from Dr. George Elombi, Incoming President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank.
Dr. Drew highlighted a real-time example of how current visa regimes hamper economic cooperation. “Two investors were expected to sign investment agreements through Afreximbank with St. Kitts and Nevis. One of them was unable to attend because he needed a visa. This is already negatively impacting our business,” he said.
St. Kitts and Nevis currently offers visa-free access to several African countries, including Nigeria, however, Kittitians and Nevisians still require visas to travel to those same countries. “We have been welcoming Nigerian medical and diving students for years. Yet our people still need visas to travel to Nigeria. We are actively engaged in discussions with Nigerian officials to address this imbalance,” the Prime Minister added.
The call for greater mobility was met with enthusiasm by fellow leaders and echoed broader sentiments expressed throughout ACTIF2025, which this year is themed “Resilience and Transformation: Enhancing Africa-Caribbean Economic Cooperation in an Era of Global Uncertainty.”
The panel served as a platform to advocate for reciprocal trade policies, streamlined mobility, and inclusive investment frameworks that reflect the shared heritage and economic ambitions of both regions. Prime Minister Drew’s message reinforced the growing momentum toward tangible integration between Africa and the Caribbean.
Heads of Government from across both regions participated in the panel, including Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley of Barbados, Prime Minister Philip Pierre of St. Lucia, Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda, President Mohamed Irfaan Ali of Guyana, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica, and Rwanda’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Prudence Sebahizi, who represented President Paul Kagame.
On the eve of the forum, delegates gathered for a welcome reception on 27th July, where Afreximbank President Professor Benedict Oramah reflected on the evolution of Africa-Caribbean relations and reaffirmed the Bank’s support for deepened partnerships. Grenadian Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell also welcomed participants, underscoring the forum’s significance in shaping future regional resilience.
Private sector leaders, including Mohammed Asaria, Founder and Managing Director of Range Developments, also addressed the gathering and highlighted the role of cross-regional investment in realising shared development goals.
ACTIF2025 continues to provide a transformative space for high-level dialogue, regional collaboration, and the reimagining of trade and investment strategies between Africa and the Caribbean.
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