On the southern coast of Nevis, a Caribbean island with a population of around 13,200, a project is quietly taking shape that has already sparked political, legal and social debate. This is not simply another resort or luxury housing development, but an attempt to build a closed community with elements of self-governance, alternative dispute resolution and a philosophy that openly challenges the role of the state.
The Destiny project and its investor
The project, known as Destiny, is being promoted by Belgian entrepreneur and early bitcoin investor Olivier Janssens. Through affiliated entities, he has been acquiring land on Nevis over recent years with the aim of creating a residential enclave for wealthy international residents. The plans include villas, terraced homes with private pools, internal infrastructure and healthcare facilities. The target audience is explicitly global and highly mobile, consisting of entrepreneurs, investors and individuals seeking legal predictability and autonomy.
Governance before architecture
What distinguishes Destiny from conventional Caribbean developments is its focus on governance rather than architecture. Janssens has publicly criticised the effectiveness of local courts, arguing that slow or unpredictable judicial systems discourage long-term investment. His proposed solution is not political independence, but contract-based governance.
Under this model, residents would voluntarily agree to resolve disputes through private arbitration mechanisms rather than relying exclusively on state courts. Such systems are widely used in international commerce and finance, but applying them to a physical residential community represents a far more ambitious and untested experiment. Formally, Destiny does not seek sovereignty and would remain subject to the laws of St Kitts and Nevis. Even so, critics argue that the practical outcome could resemble a semi-autonomous enclave operating largely outside democratic oversight.
The legal window on Nevis
The timing of the project is closely linked to recent legal reforms. St Kitts and Nevis has introduced legislation allowing the creation of special sustainability zones designed to attract foreign capital. These zones provide greater flexibility in areas such as planning, infrastructure development and arbitration, while remaining within the national legal framework. For investors, the appeal lies in regulatory certainty and tailored rules. For the government, the promise is foreign investment, job creation and economic diversification beyond traditional tourism.
Opposition figures and civil-society groups remain cautious. They warn that once land is transferred into privately governed developments with bespoke legal arrangements, reversing course becomes difficult. The concern is not only about Destiny itself, but about the precedent it could set.
Prices and the economics of exclusivity
Exact prices paid for land linked to Destiny have not been publicly disclosed. Market estimates suggest that in recent years land on Nevis has typically traded between €40 and €120 per square metre, depending on location, zoning and proximity to the coast. Prime coastal plots can command higher prices, particularly when development approvals are already in place.
Across the Eastern Caribbean, completed luxury residential properties commonly sell for between €700,000 and more than €2 million. While Destiny has not released official pricing for future homes, its positioning and planned amenities clearly place it in the premium segment, far beyond the reach of most local buyers. This has intensified concerns that large-scale foreign-backed developments could gradually reduce access to land for island residents.
Local reaction and the land question
Land ownership carries deep historical and social significance on Nevis, shaped by colonial legacies and limited territory. For many islanders, the issue is not foreign investment itself, but concentration. The acquisition of substantial contiguous land by a single private project raises fears of exclusion and long-term loss of control over local resources.
There is also concern about cumulative impact. If Destiny is allowed to operate with expanded autonomy, similar projects may seek comparable arrangements, potentially reshaping the island’s governance landscape over time. On a small island, even one large development can significantly alter economic, political and social balances.
A global trend in private governance
Destiny reflects a broader global trend among wealthy investors searching for alternatives to state-led governance. From charter city proposals to privately managed economic zones, the underlying idea is consistent: capital increasingly prioritises predictable rules and enforceable contracts alongside tax efficiency. What makes Nevis distinctive is scale. In a small jurisdiction, the effects of such experiments are immediate and highly visible.
What comes next
The project remains at an early stage. No construction timetable has been confirmed, and many legal and operational details are still under discussion. National sovereignty is not formally challenged, but the debate triggered by Destiny has already moved far beyond real estate.
For supporters, Destiny represents innovation, capital inflows and a potential model for future investment-driven development. For critics, it is a warning about how financial power can reshape legal and social boundaries. How Nevis manages this balance may become a reference point for other small states navigating the same pressures in an increasingly globalised investment environment.
