...We need to educate our people so that as Antiguans we can develop our twin island nation. Why do we not yet have a fully functional UWI campus in Antigua? And why do we yet import so much? Why is Antigua the highest consumer of oil products within the OECS? When will we truly become independent? We need to be able to feed ourselves and stand on our own in the export community. We need our freedom!

I believe that we do need investors in our country, but I think we need to remember Dato Tan and Uncle Stan. We say we are an independent country but yet we are more than willing to continue to say 'yes massa' instead of setting the rules of engagement. I think we need to be more appreciative of what we have and take a look at what may come to be if we continue this trend. We must stop putting ourselves at the mercy of foreign interests who obviously have no reason to have our best interests at heart. If we allow them to come in and rape and pillage then it is on us. When we sit at the table with these foreign investors we should wield iron clad agreements which allows for the development of jobs for our people. How else, where else are we going to find money for all of these new taxes? If the money that is generated does not circulate within our country but just goes straight down the toilet, how can we expect things to get better? Tourism and foreign investments are no longer the only tools that we should gird ourselves with. We need to become more self sufficient...

When you realize you are banging your head against a brick wall, you should probably give up... the wall wins every time... But, then again, I'm stubborn...

When we give into this CIP program we might as well give up on the farce of Independence. Might as well we had stayed a colony of Great Britain then.....

Why not give residency by investment instead. Is Antigua a prostitue? Chupssss

Thats y they r shooting up the place so crazy government don't care so neither killers

So suggest changes (as you have started to do here) to any such program (increase the amount, change how the money is tasked, etc., etc....) Or is it your contention that the instruments of civil society in Antigua so completely lacking that the debate is simply not worth it? Again, most developed and developing nations have an immigration policy that takes into consideration what the immigrant brings to the table.

We have people coming from other islands/ countrys with bad records and we dont know what crimes they commeted, but we give them our passport after 7 years. Now we have someone that buys a million dollar house, employs us in a company and we dont want them on our island.
Get real antiguan

The Chinese Republic of Antigua!

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Finally I agree with need outside investor, we can waive the Non Citizen License fee offer discount on some of the taxes or total tax exemption and I think that will keep them within the perimeters of what an outside investor should be. This country is not just to feed this generation but it belongs to generation after generations long after we are gone. We should always remember and be guided that we only comprise of 108 Sq mile and we never want to create a situation where the children of soil are not able to live and purchase land at an affordable price. We should be mindful that real investor that wants to invest don’t need a passport to do so. They need tax break, safe country and country that practice democracy. We should all rally around the senators that voted with their conscience and not with their party. We all have to life with our self and whatever situation created by the government long after they are not the government.

One of the main component missing is this discussion is the Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda. If I am not mistaken the constitution is the highest law. It gives the right of anyone holding a passport to purchase land and do business in the country to which they hold the passport for without any prejudice or hindrance. Saying that to say, today they start with prime lands, but what is to stop them there, surly not an agreement. Bear in mind that the constitution supersedes all other laws. E.g. look at what Mr. Pxxx the Chinese investor/ businessman is doing in the fishery division; paying a few dollars more and lending loan to fisherman and corner the lobster market. All other local lobster exporter is suffering and it is creating such a burden on lobsters fishermen that they braking the law by catching lobster that are not suitable for sale

OK, let's get real - Reality - the international market for vacation villas is dormant, most folks who want one already got one, plus a good passport from USA, Canada, or Europe. Most temporary visitor foreign citizens don't need an Antiguan passport, it won't even help most of them avoid tax. Who does? 1) folks for whom life is getting too hot in their own country. 2) folks who need to invest ill-gotten gains. 3) folks from unstable countries - where did Hon. P.M. go on his CIP promotion trip? Don't say checks and balances' will stop other countries' criminals coming - we got some prominent examples already, who loudly support CIP. Folks who bought the bargain price Investment Fund passport, may arrive in AG as refugees with the clothes on their back and nowhere to stay. Then your USA trip means an hour at passport control. How much do we need all this? Reality is also that large amounts of money are no good to you if you need a gun under your pillow. Reality is about sustainable economic growth, not get rich quick schemes that don't even work. Let's get real and dump this scheme forever.

Anyone who considers granting citizenship to anyone who forks up US$250,000.00 and over as 'rational economic policy' is not up to the task of managing our national affairs. Bear in mind that the funds do not go towards the consolidated funds (the Treasury) so it can be misappropriated at will especially in an election season when no one is looking. Given the history of public finance management in Antigua by both parties, I'd say there's a high probability that these funds will be 're purposed' at a whim.
The constitution of Antigua and Barbuda sets out in clear terms how one qualifies for citizenship. If we are going to amend the law to allow politicians to decide and grant citizenship to the highest bidder we should let the people who hired them at least have a say yes or no.

Call it whatever,ration al policy,CIP,or selling passports,the idea stinks and breeds the same reaction.( WE DO NOT WANT OUR BEST LANDS GIVEN TO THE HIGHESET BIDDER"" WE DO NOT WANT ETHNIC ENCLAVES OF ELITIST WITHIN OUR SOCIETY THAT OUR FOREPARENTS FOUGHT SOO HARD FOR.) This is not the first time that we have had foreign investment,why do anyone have to be a citizen of a country to invest in that country??? Especially where the cost of living is soo high,taxes are soo high and utility rates shutting down small busineses,what are you offering them that will attract them to spend soo much to be a citizen here,our souls ar a place to hide from something???

Antiguans and Barbudans need to grow up and come into the real world fast. Since when is selling the passport selling our birthright, hypocrites that we are? We have nothing to sell, yet we don't want Long Bay, we don't want the CIP, but we want our money monthly. From where then?

The motives of the backers, we are required to throw the baby out with the bath water.... logical, right?

Posters below speak of...a rational policy...not selling passports. It was obvious from the whole way this thing was set up from the beginning (a panel of yes-men on a very few little publicized 'public meetings' etc...) that some officer said "Do This Now" and all the grunts were meant to say "Yes Sir, right away!" - except this whole process has been so irrational and antidemocratic that even the Representatives you'd expect to cave on this kind of three line whip couldn't bring themselves to support it. This is a desperate measure being pushed by a few equally desperate property developers and politicians, cheered on by the the Government appointed 'good old boys' who will administer it for fat salaries and the agents who will profit from it - while putting the whole value of Antiguan citizenship at risk. If awarding a passport in return for a donation of $250K to a 'development fund' isn't selling a passport, what is?

While I am aware that outside investors are a vital avenue for injecting funds into and stimulating our economy, I am quite concerned about the types and intentions of the investors that such a program would attract and how we would regulate to whom we grant citizenship. Let us be wise and learn from the Stanford fiasco.

In the name of true democracy why dont we the people force the Govt to have a Referendum.It is quite clear that if we do nothing it will be forced upon us.The PM is excercising his powers to do what he thinks is within is scope, according to him the Westminister system allows him to do as he feels,we need to let him know,it also gives power to the people,been elected as Govt does not allow you to do whatever pleases you.Let us demand a referendum on this one regardless of party preference.11 senators and 9 parliamentarian should not be allowed to decide for thousands on this one. Time is now to demonstrate if we are really free from all forms of slavery including political slavery. Caribarena online poll may give a feel as to what the people wants,but will hold no weight. Lets do the real thing,demand a Referendum.

But the emotional arguments being made about a rational policy astound me.... Every advanced country interested in improving its economy has a similar program (albeit by different names). Antiguans who live overseas (and are citizens of other countries), especially,... really??? Appropriately managed, this can help our country.... This is not about UPP or ALP - its about rational economic policy as opposed to an immigration policy (or non-policy) that is irrational at best.

Yeah. You mean rich Arabs, Chinese, Stanford, Madoff, Ponzi, Chavez, and the Mafias of the world?

The promoters of this initiative have done a horrible job!!!!!! You are promoting a citizenship by investment program not selling passport as the learned gentleman said on the program. Investors get a citizenship certificate. As a citizen you are entitled to a passport like every other citizen. Language is important. The opposition has now ran with the narrative on this.... The irony is some Antiguans now in the US and other countries are saying don't give any one citizenship in Antigua. None of us are for the eradiction or marginalization of natural born Antiguans.. A number of MDC's have some form of CIP program.

I have never seen any of these Chinese or Syrian people at Immigration standing in the line for time. Caribarena should do a survey to see how many of them already do have Antigua Passports and how long they lived here before they got it. I heard a story once that someone saw a Chinese with an Antiguan pasport and they could even talk English....We may be surprised to know that passports have been giving away for many years for free.

NO NO NO NO NO. I don't support it at all.

Another point I havent hear yet. How do these CIP's popping up around the Caribbean impact the CSME??? is this still on. Because if it will be one passport for the region then what we do will also affect other countries. Unless the CSME has been cancelled and I am not aware.

From listening to the calling programmes, it is clear that most persons do not understand what the CIP is all about. From the cost alone people should realize that its not the normal persons coming here to buy a passport. But rather its the rich Arabs or Chinese who will mostly capitalize on this and of course they will not want to squat on land down Perry Bay.

NO. I do not want to sell my birthright. If you can do that then next you will want to sell me too.

Why sell out Antiguans birthright? Put your energies to:
1. fight crime while training the police force
2. Investigate WPP, fencing, Chinese building contracts
3. Refund Social Security and pay the pensions on time
4. Develop sustainable employment
5. Develop sustainable technology and education
6. Find a new Chief of Police that's not political
7. Get out of the Communist bloc of nations
8. Reduce the high taxes off people's back
9. Call early election since this UPP gov bankrupt
10 Finally, the the UPP Grabament should resign now

Let me say it again. A referendum in needed on this bill before the government proceeds to institute this program.