Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has reiterated his opposition to the economic Citizenship by Investment Programmes (CIP) being operated by some member states of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
CIP programmes are currently being offered in St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and St. Lucia.
Speaking on the issue on Monday February 20th 2017 at a press conference at cabinet room, Dr. Gonsalves emphasized that this country’s citizenship is not for sale.
He noted that the very issue of selling passports is creating problems in some of the countries that offer it.
“The highest office in the land is that of citizen, it is the office higher than that of prime minister, higher than that of governor general. It is what binds us together…,” he said.
The Prime Minister stressed that citizenship is too precious to be used as a bargaining tool.
He explained that there are several acceptable ways by which a person can become a citizen of St. Vincent and the Grenadines such as by way of birth, descent, marriage or naturalization.
