St.Kitts and Nevis, is a twin islands in the Caribbean has a local population of 46,000. The diaspora of Saint Kitts and Nevis is estimated to be around 50,000 people most of them are economic citizens, living in, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Middle East, Asia, Caribbean, Asia and Europe.
Diaspora population are members of ethnic and national communities who have left but maintain links with their homeland. the Kittitian-Nevisian Diaspora refers to its emigrants and their descendants, who live and work abroad but wish to contribute to the overall development of St Kitts and Nevis.
According to a 2013 World Bank (WB) Study on the Caribbean Diaspora; the number of persons who migrate almost equals the number of persons who currently reside in their home country, of which ninety percent (90%) demonstrate a keen interest in investing in their homeland.
“Through our Diaspora connections, we renew our commitment to fostering partnerships that promote growth and progress in Saint Kitts and Nevis. Diasporic expertise, insights, and resources are invaluable to shaping our nation’s future and through collaboration, we combine talents to tackle challenges, explore opportunities, and create a brighter tomorrow for our homeland. We also desire for our citizens and nationals in the Diaspora to be able to indulge in and benefit from the initiatives that your Government implements. “
-PM Dr. Terrance Drew
The Government of St.Kitts and Nevis has formed a Regional Integration and Diaspora Unit (RIDU) for exciting annual event, SKN Diaspora conference, which will serve as an avenue to keep citizens and nationals across the globe informed of the happenings within our beloved Federation. The Government has also been publishing Diaspora Digest for citizens living abroad to integrate and collaborate in advancing the nation.
The Role of RIDU
Diaspora relations in the government of Saint Kitts and Nevis is led by the Regional Integration and Diaspora Unit (RIDU) which falls under the remit of the Prime Minister’s Office. Since gaining National Independence, there has been an ongoing quest to include our nationals living outside the federation in the economic, social and governance agenda of the country. Such inclusion takes into consideration the billions of dollars in remittances that have flowed from the Diaspora over the last 40 years, the functioning of Saint Kitts and Nevis groups in various cities in North America and the United Kingdom, as well as the ongoing participation of our nationals in the voting process. In these ways and more, our nationals continue to be connected with the land of their birth.
The RIDU (Saint Kitts and Nevis) has been in operation for approximately twelve years. It has assisted greatly in coordinating the efforts of the government to ensure that there is consistency in the objectives our country gains from our membership in the regional organisations as well as to ensure that nationals at home and in the Diaspora benefit from the free movement of people, goods, services and investment. The focus of the RIDU is to increase its visibility and availability to all nationals, citizens and friends of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
The RIDU seeks to shore up the level of connectivity that exists between the Government and all nationals and citizens of Saint Kitts and Nevis who reside in the Diaspora. The continued review and broadening of the RIDU’s understanding of the Diaspora stem from a commitment to coordinate the action, the interaction and the integration of the people who identify with our country while currently residing elsewhere. The Unit is determined to broaden the focus areas of the Diaspora with updated corresponding policies to address
- Nationals living abroad,
- Students studying abroad and diplomats abroad on special national assignment,
- Descendants of nationals born abroad,
- Citizens through investment,
- The Saint Kitts and Nevis citizens as part of the African Diaspora, and
- African citizens who have resided in Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Through coordinated action, the RIDU is committed to creating a strategic framework which helps to identify our nationals, citizens and friends in the various locales across the region and world. RIDU action will be based on providing advanced and timely information to the Diaspora on the government’s sustainable island agenda along with business and community based opportunities for our nationals to consider being actively involved.
“Staff at St. Kitts and Nevis’ Overseas Missions and Embassies stay in close contact with nationals in the diaspora as these relationships will be helpful in the event of any disasters.”
In order to achieve these and other outcomes, there will be regular face-to-face and online interface between the Unit and our nationals abroad to regularly include our nationals and citizens in the local and regional agenda of the government and to advise them of opportunities for investment and employment. Through our skills and interests portal, RIDU will seek to build connections between our citizens in the Diaspora with opportunities both here in Saint Kitts and Nevis and across CARICOM, with the hope of creating further connections with Africa in the long-term. The RIDU vision for integration also involves facilitating the seamless strategic immersion of our nationals, citizens and friends in all aspects of national life. The ultimate aim is to make the home-bound relocation of our nationals and citizens hassle-free. The desire is for there to be no policy hindrances and impediments when any national or citizen desires to relocate to the federation.
Voting rights
The Diaspora population, play a key role in shaping the future of country by voting in elections. St.Kitts citizens can register with electoral office to vote in general elections, can be
- Resident Citizen
- Citizen Resident Overseas; or
- Commonwealth Citizen resident in St. Kitts and Nevis for a continuous period of 12
months
In any case you must have already attained the age of eighteen years. Your name will thereafter be appearing on the Annual List of Registered Voters within the
Constituency for which you were registered when that list is published by the 31st January of the next new year; or when the full electoral lists are published for the occasion of an election.
Note: Economic citizens under CBI law do not have the right to vote.
Sustainable Nation
As the world grapples with the existential threats of climate change, vulnerable small island states like Saint Kitts and Nevis, have begun to pursue the solutions that include sustainability into the national consciousness. The Diaspora continues to be a effective resource pool which can broaden the scope of examining the issues of environmental preservation, care and control. our diasporic engagement will help to build resiliency into the sustainable island state agenda.
Diaspora can play a vital role in helping Saint Kitts and Nevis become a sustainable island state. There are a number of ways that the Diaspora can contribute to this national effort. Nationals in the Diaspora can provide financial support to sustainable development projects, such as renewable energy initiatives, environmental conservation programs, and educational initiatives. They can also provide investment for sustainable businesses and industries that contribute to the country’s economic development while minimising environmental impact. Diaspora members can promote sustainable tourism in Saint Kitts and Nevis by encouraging their friends and family to visit and support our ecofriendly businesses.
The nation continues to seek after the expertise of the Diaspora for sustainable development, renewable energy, environmental conservation, and other fields where their knowledge and skills can be shared with local businesses and communities.
By leveraging its resources, networks, and expertise, the Diaspora can make a significant contribution to Saint Kitts and Nevis’s transition to a sustainable island state.
