Saint Lucia sets up its first sovereign wealth fund as tourism drives a 2026 rebound

The IMF projects Saint Lucia’s economy to rebound in 2026 on a tourism pickup, after growth eased to about 1.7% in 2025 from a strong 2024. The government, re-elected in December 2025 under Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, has approved its first sovereign wealth fund, financed by Citizenship by Investment proceeds and earmarked for public investment and self-insurance against natural disasters. The fund is paired with regionally coordinated steps to strengthen CIP screening and transparency. For the Saint Lucian diaspora, the shift channels passport revenue toward climate resilience rather than recurrent spending.

Source: IMF 2025 Article IV consultation (imf.org); Trinidad Express.