Politics
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Gonsalves administration opposed to economic citizenship initiative
St. Vincent & the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves says his administration remains opposed to an economic citizenship program even as St. Lucia became the latest Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) country to express interest in the initiative.
“It is my view that economic citizenship is a superficially attractive option. To me, the downside outweighs whatever money you can collect, the downside being whatever problems you may have, dealing with due diligence.
St. Lucia’s Prime Minister Kenny Anthony last month reported significant interest across the globe since St. Lucia announced in March that it would be exploring possible introduction of an economic citizenship program.
Gonsalves said St. Kitts & Nevis has “jumped the queue”, having had an economic citizenship program for years. Antigua & Barbuda and Dominica also have economic citizenship programs.
But Gonsalves told reporters that apart from the practical questions relating to due diligence, he also has “a fundamental, philosophical objection to economic citizenship. “I maintain that the highest office in the land is that of citizen. What binds us together is the bonds of citizenship, community of spirit with one another and the accepted forms of citizenship, to me, are appropriate to our circumstances,” Gonsalves said.
He noted that currently persons become citizens of the country by birth, descent and by marriage to a national as well as by naturalization. Gonsalves said there is also a provision where someone has had a connection to the country for 5 years and has made a significant economic, social or cultural development, is of sound character, understand what it means to be a citizen, and can write and speak the English language with a certain level of proficiency.
Gonsalves, defended the decision of his administration to grant citizenship to businessman Dave Ames, the owner of the Buccament Bay Resort, saying this was not an economic citizenship initiative. He said Ames became a citizen in the same way that former prime minister, Sir James Mitchell, granted citizenship to Canouan investor Antonio Saladino.
Gonsalves, who has ministerial responsibility for citizenship, said the citizenship granted to these investors is not economic citizenship, because they were required to have a commitment to the country for several years up front and then consideration was given for citizenship.
Gonsalves had his doubts about the extent to which due diligence can be conducted under an economic citizenship program.
“For me, citizenship is not a commodity for sale, and the passport, which is a manifestation of the citizenship, what I call the outward sign of the inward grace of citizenship, is also not for sale. Now, that is my position, that is the position of the government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” he added. -(CMC)