St Lucia has announced that its citizenship by investment programme will be launched on January 1st.
These programmes in the Caribbean and elsewhere have been controversial because of corruption and the use of the facility by criminals and others.
A statement yesterday from the Office of the St Lucia Prime Minister said that PM Kenny Anthony made the announcement in an address to the Global Citizens Forum in Monaco on Thursday.
He told the gathering that St Lucia will be accepting applications for citizenship by investment as of 1 January 2016.
The statement said that Anthony described himself as a ”jealous guardian of Saint Lucian citizenship”. However, he noted that the time had arrived to think beyond the traditional approaches to deal with the myriad problems facing small states, and that “offering citizenship through investment has now also become a viable alternative.”
The Prime Minister told the gathering of citizenship lawyers, wealth managers, marketing agents, investors and VIP’s that St Lucia, by accepting new citizens, would not just be offering citizenship but would be offering an identity, a people and the Caribbean island’s place in the world.
He emphasised that new citizens must bolster St Lucia’s global standing and ensure that the country’s proud heritage endures.
In his address, the Prime Minister outlined the principles and characteristics of the programme to be implemented by St Lucia. He observed that the legislation establishing the programme was supported without political rancour, with the blessing of both Government and the Opposition.
