APPROPRIATION (2026) BILL, 2025, PASSED INTO LAW IN ST. KITTS AND NEVIS’ PARLIAMENT

Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 19, 2025 (SKNIS): After a period spanning four (4) days, from the presentation of St. Kitts and Nevis’ 2026 Budget Address by the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance on December 16, to the rebuttal by Leader of His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition, the Honourable Mark Brantley, and debates by parliamentarians, The Appropriation (2026) Bill, 2025, with total estimates for 2026 of EC$ 1.075 billion for recurrent expenditure, capital expenditure and net lending, was passed into law on Friday, December 19, 2025.

With a total recurrent, capital and net lending charges on the consolidated fund of EC $948,922,075, and a total provided by law of EC $126,129,550, the Bill made provisions for the Governor-General; Parliament; Audit Office; Justice and Legal Affairs; Prime Minister’s Office; National Security, Citizenship and Immigration; International Trade, Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Finance; Social Development and Gender Affairs; Agriculture, Fisheries, Marine Resources and Cooperatives; the Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation and International Transport; Public Infrastructure, Energy, Utilities and Domestic Transport; Education; Health and Social Security; Sports; Sustainable Development; Foreign Affairs; Office of the Attorney-General; Employment and Labour; Housing, Human Settlement, Ecclesiastical Affairs and Faith-based Affairs; Environment, Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment; Information, Communication, Technology and Post; Youth Empowerment, Ageing and Disabilities; Economic Development and Investment, and Small Business Entrepreneurship, Cooperatives and the Creative Economy.

The Appropriation (2026) Bill, 2025, was presented under the theme: “Investing in People and Progress.”  

“I want to reiterate Madame Speaker, all of the things that we have done for our people and all of the opportunities that our people would have, as we continue to invest in people and progress,” said Prime Minister Dr. Drew. “People can look forward to more construction, houses, more resources to cut the cost of living with all of these things we are talking about such as more jobs.”

Addressing the House, Prime Minister Drew underscored the government’s commitment to economic diversification while maintaining the strategic value of the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme, emphasising that stronger laws and safeguards remain central to protecting the national interest.

“Madame Speaker, I am saying that we are diversifying from the CBI, but we still would like to have our CBI because it can help and be part of a diversified economy,” Dr. Drew said. “But, of course, we have tightened and strengthened the laws, made it vigorous, and we will continue to make the necessary changes so that we can continue to protect our country and our people.”

In his wrap–up of the 2026 Budget Debate, Prime Minister Drew highlighted the government’s action-oriented approach, describing a financial plan that moves beyond dialogue and delivers measurable progress for the people of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

“This is a budget that is clearly a budget. We are investing in progress, where we are converting conversations into action,” he said. 

The Appropriation (2026) Bill, 2025, (Budget) was passed unopposed by Members of Parliament. It received favourable reviews from four members of the Opposition.

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