United States Cautions Caribbean Countries With Citizenship By Investment Programs

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Apr. 14, (CMC) – The United States government has warned Caribbean countries offering the Citizenship by Investment Program (CIP), to refrain from issuing “unless the issuing government is confident, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the individual is a bona fide applicant”.

In a statement issued, yesterday, the US Embassy, here, said while it does not approve or disapprove individual aspects of the CIP, the participating countries must ensure that the identity of individuals is fully validated, and that the applicant lacks ties to transnational criminal or terrorist organisations.

The US also noted that it understands the potential economic benefits from utilizing the CIP and it is the sovereign right of all countries to choose whether or not to engage in such a program.

“The United States strongly believes that all countries have an inherent responsibility to their citizens and the international community to review fully all applicants who seek a nation’s citizenship,” the US said in a statement.

“While the United States government is willing to consult with governments on their citizenship investment programs, the ultimate decisions to offer and how to operate such a program, including the issuance of citizenship and related identifying documents, such as passports to applicants, lie with each individual government and not with the United States,” the statement added.

Countries that have implemented CIP are Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts-Nevis and Dominica.

St. Lucia has indicated that it will be implementing the program shortly.

Under the CIP, foreign investors are given citizenship, once they make a significant investment in the socio-economic development of the country.