“Government to Ease Business Barriers,” Primus Outlines Reforms at UK Diaspora Tour 

By Val Matthias. Updated 9:12 a.m., Monday, April 20, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is moving to make it easier for entrepreneurs to operate, with a package of reforms announced by Mr. Christo Primus, Head of the Private Sector Development Unit in the Prime Minister’s Office, during Invest SVG’s “Home Is Where the Heart Is “diaspora tour in the United Kingdom. 

Primus said the government has recognized that bureaucratic bottlenecks have long slowed business activity and discouraged investment. To address this, new measures will be rolled out in 2026, including the creation of a Private Sector Development Council to give businesses a voice in national decision‑making, the introduction of a Small Business Development Bill, and amendments to the Companies Act to reduce delays in registering companies. Plans are also underway for a National Development Bank to expand financing options for local enterprises. 

Explaining why these changes are urgent, Primus pointed to the vulnerability of small island economies like SVG, where natural disasters consume large portions of the national budget. He said true growth can only occur if the private sector is placed at the center of policy and supported with a more efficient business environment. 

Primus emphasized that the Department of Private Sector Development is “the glue that binds our diaspora aspirations to our national reality,” ensuring that overseas Vincentians can invest with confidence. He urged diaspora investors to act quickly on opportunities identified during the UK mission, warning that neighbouring countries are also competing for diaspora capital. 

By improving the ease of doing business, supporting small and medium enterprises, and expanding exports, Primus said the government aims to build a resilient economy that creates jobs, diversifies industries, and strengthens SVG’s competitiveness on the global stage.

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