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Economy
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Thursday, 30 June 2011 02:30
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By Colin Sampson
Antigua St John's - The government of Antigua & Barbuda has announced the establishment of a task force to examine the feasibility of implementing an economic citizenship programme.
Such programmes are not new, nor are they the preserve of developed countries such as Canada and the United States. One apparently highly successful economic citizenship programme has been adopted in neighbouring St Kitts & Nevis, and reportedly earned that country over US$100,000,000 in the past fiscal year. This signal success is being given the credit for enabling the St Kitts/Nevis government to avoid approaching the IMF for fiscal support.
It is quite possible that the success of the St Kitts & Nevis economic citizenship programme may have prompted Antigua & Barbuda government’s decision to take a serious look at the possibility of establishing a similar system here. If this is in fact the case, then City West MP Gaston Browne might be fully justified if he were to allow himself a wry smile.
Barely two years ago, as the government of Antigua & Barbuda began the process of securing budgetary support from the IMF, Browne made the bold proposal in Parliament that this country should implement an economic citizenship programme of its own.
At the time, the City West MP was roundly castigated, particularly by supporters of the governing United Progressive Party. More pointedly, he received no support from members of his own opposition Antigua Labour Party. Indications are that in today’s political climate, the ALP will pounce on the government’s initiative with glee, calling out every possible argument – from nationalism to predictions of widespread abuse – to mobilize opposition against the proposal.
When Browne made his proposal, the initiative was presented to the public as merely a plan for the sale of passports. Censorious fingers were pointed at the Commonwealth of Dominica, whose version of an economic citizenship program had turned out to be just that. Dominican passports were sold for sums as trivial as US$20,000: a price that produced little revenue.
Further, a failure to implement due diligence meant that passports ended up in the hands of persons who – to put it tactfully – might not have been prime candidates for the privilege.
Many recalled that a similar Antigua & Barbuda “passports for sale” programme had been in operation while opposition leader Lester Bird served as prime minister. The discovery of that venture led to international embarrassment for this country, as the Antigua & Barbuda passport became an object of suspicion around the world.
When Browne spoke out on the issue, Minister of Finance Harold Lovell was categorizing Antigua & Barbuda as being “hit by a category five hurricane, and in trouble.” If conditions were serious then, they are even more dreadful now.
Challenged by critics the City West MP did not flinch from defending his position. He posited that the programme should be well regulated and transparent, aimed at attracting the crème de la crème of international investors to hold Antigua & Barbuda passports. The programme, he said, should require the payment of US$300,000 for economic citizenship or an investment in real estate of at least US$400,000, the proceeds of which would be utilized for capital projects to generate additional income for the government and to facilitate overall economic growth and development.
Mr. Browne explained at the time that the government could have retained a reputable firm such as Henley & Partners in the United Kingdom to regulate the economic citizenship programme. This firm’s functions would include due diligence on the investors and regular audits of the programme to ensure transparency and accountability.
Browne argued that such a programme would give this country a natural investor pool to fund various investment initiatives. Participants would benefit from a tax shield that would reduce their tax liability and enhance their convenience of travel. He concluded by saying that the multi-millionaires and potential billionaires, who most likely would not be permanently resident here, would not be a burden on the social infrastructure, and would contribute more to national development than many who would have attained their citizenship through the traditional route.
The “environmental factors” described above may lie behind the gingerly fashion in which the UPP government is approaching its own possible espousal of an economic citizenship program. The broad-based task force pulls together the ONDCP, the Attorney-General’s office, the Bar Association, the Immigration Department, the tourism sector, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Antigua & Barbuda Investment Authority.
The task force is mandated to deliver a report to Cabinet for due consideration.
56 Comments In This Article
Slythatguy - they can do whatever they wish
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tenman
@ Tenman
Slythatguy
Slythatguy
..
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tenman
@ Tenman
On the other hand,the real problem here is not the high price in electricity,it' s the lack of an adjustment of wages(a raise)to offset the cost of living.In conclusion,your argument is more frustrating in what it fails to show than helpful in what it shows.(sorry for not replying sooner as I was in a neighbouring Island for a few days.)
Slythatguy
slythatguy
Antiguan Woman
Slythatguy - playing the monkey ctd (final)
Sly I keep saying its impossible to debate someone like you who purposefully removes themselves from facts. However, I recognize that you enjoy walking into brick walls, but my posts are not only for your benefit.
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tenman
Slythatguy - playing the monkey
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tenman
@ Tenman
Slythatguy
RE: Government Considering Economic Citizenship Programme
Just look at who we have as mister of Justice....Erro l Cort, now ask anybody to take Antigua seriously!
Truth
Antiguan woman
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tenman
@ Antiguan Woman
Slythatguy
Please
SAY What----
RE: Government Considering Economic Citizenship Programme
Fred
RE: Government Considering Economic Citizenship Programme
Antiguan woman
RE: Government Considering Economic Citizenship Programme
Antiguan Woman
@ Dit It
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tenman
wow
antigua
interesting proposal...
Maybe we can have the same experts do the feasibility study for the economic passport program.
HTH Peppersauce
@Tenman-SOS
Dig It
Another blogger
AUSTRIA ST.KITTS DOMINICA
INVESTMENT >2.5 >200,000 NONE
GOVT. FEES 5,000 35,000 82,000
PROF. FEES 300,000 15,000 15,000
PROCESSING TIME 9-12 3-14 5-12
Months Months Months
INTERVIEW NO NO NO
LANGUAGE NO NO NO
REQUIREMENT
Dig It
Good Move Mr PM..
We hope and should support the PM as the Right Wing, informer/Concer ned citizens and large land owners from the colonial days, fight to keep the status quo''!
Jack.M
What Brillance
Our country is not the only thing to which we owe our allegiance. It is also owed to justice and to humanity. Patriotism consists not in waving the flag, but in striving that our country shall be righteous as well as strong. ~James Bryce
Southern Beauty
dumb Idea no matter who's idea
Skyewill
No to buying citizenship
Tobi
re: All a part of life -
brutusmaximuswayne *
For Sale
1. A particular right of possession or privilege one has from birth.
2. The possession or privilege itself.
I guess everything is for sale when you are desperate.
Buzzbomb
change!
your article sounds like a literary piece saying little in relation to the issue - raising money to save our country. if my mind serves me correct, John French was and old man with a walking stick who used to preach all over St. John's many years ago.
rather than just debunking it as another Tubby of waste, why not suggest another alternative?
i guess that would be too much for you and Baldwin and his troupe?
Iago:
O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;
It is the green-ey'd monster, which doth mock
The meat it feeds on. That cuckold lives in bliss,
Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger:
But O, what damnèd minutes tells he o'er
Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves!
Yes...Beware Gaston...and keep firm.
dragonfly
just a thought 2............
jeb
just a thought 1...........
jeb
Congrats to Gaston Browne
Peter Derrick
The Wizard of OZ meets Dorothy
John French II
PRIDE
Realistically how many of these 'passports' do they think they'll sell? Would it make any difference to Antigua's fiscal situation? I rather go hungry than have antigua's name dragged through the mud and lose our national pride than sell our souls for 2 pence halfpenny.... Who really comes up with these nonsensical ideas?
Come on guys...think outside the box...
local
Fancy Words
Maybe they should open up an eBay account and get this thing kick started On-Line by selling the passports on eBay!!!
George LB Bird
RE: Government Considering Economic Citizenship Programme
Cool Ruler
LIES, LIES AND MORE LIES ... shoddy journalism
The selling of passports is a BAD IDEA for Antigua and Barbuda regardless of who is credited for the BAD IDEA.
The St Kitts initiative did not make even one percent of the figure quoted in the article. In the first paragraph on the St Kitts government website for the initiative it says that only a few persons have taken advantage of the opportunity, so it is clear that it could not have brought over one hundred million dollars to St Kitts ...
READ IT FOR YOURSELF at
http://stkitts-citizenship.com/?gclid=CNG4kq7_3akCFQVR2godFRrjYg
Professor
Dessalines
Skyewill
RE: Government Considering Economic Citizenship Programme
Ricky
so what!
since he may very well be the next PM it's time you guys get him to give more advise that may just save our backsides.
kudos to you Gaston...you seem to be ready to take the mantle...i'm ready to try something new...not used (like Lester, Maulwyn or robin) and not something Blue (like Baldwin, Harold, or Errol).
keep it up!
dragonfly
RE: Government Considering Economic Citizenship Programme
Good Job Bob
RE: Government Considering Economic Citizenship Programme
* What guarantee will we offer these "potential customers" to convince them that ANU will be a safe haven for them despite the laundry list of allegations against us?
* Do we have a workable plan to screen applicants and to prevent high profile criminals from getting their hands on these passports, since this could potentially bring us more unwanted/undese rved criticisms in the international community?
Morris
RE: Government Considering Economic Citizenship Programme
The present generation needs to step up an lead our dear country.
I'm sicken with all this baseless fairly tales
All a part of life.
RE: Government Considering Economic Citizenship Programme
UPP Executive Member
Doomed to repeat history
PLM
Desperation and Hypocrisy
2. Will Colin Sampson provide the readers with any details regarding sale of pa-s-s-ports during the LBB administration? Sampson is repeating a lie.
3. Ask the Information Commissioner for the data on the past sale of Antigua and Barbuda pa-s-s-ports, then share the details.
Wisdom
RE: Government Considering Economic Citizenship Programme
All a part of life.
RE: Government Considering Economic Citizenship Programme
Maria V
pepperpot
last? can i now sell my passport because just like the government i am dead broke and need the money. . i say Ebay here i come opening bid 5000 shekel .
microwave chef
see why people suppose to read before coming to......
brutusmaximuswayne *
@ All
http://www.da-academy.org/johnson3.html
Their program was implemented in 1991 and if I'm not mistaken some 20 years later they still need visas to visit Canada.
Dessalines
Fred Skyewill
If our immigration dept. cant stem the flow of JA, GT and Dominican working girls from coming here how are we going to vet Russian and Middle Eastern criminals (read terrorists) to whom money is no object? You think after Antigua's international reputation and past pa.s.sport scandals the Canadians and EU countries will trust us to vet applicants satisfactorily? .
Dessalines
RE: Government Considering Economic Citizenship Programme
All a part of life.
exicution
apec
I don't understand
Skyewill
Brown Running the Country
Thinking Big
RE: Government Considering Economic Citizenship Programme
Fred
RE: Government Considering Economic Citizenship Programme
Do The Math
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