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A parliamentary select committee met Tuesday to review new legislation aimed at tightening Antigua and Barbuda’s Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP), including a major change that increases the residency requirement for new citizens from five days to 30 days over a five-year period.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who chaired the session, said the reforms are part of efforts to strengthen international confidence and align with global standards set by the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and the European Union.
The changes follow months of regional consultation among countries offering similar investment-based citizenships.
Among the most significant updates is the introduction of biometric data collection for all new applicants, which will require new passport technology and the establishment of biometric centers across North America, Europe, Asia and Africa.
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Existing CIP citizens will also be required to submit their biometric details when renewing their passports.
“There are some who argue that the requirement should be even longer,” Browne told the committee.
“But the reality is that many of these applicants are busy businesspeople who don’t have the time to spend weeks vacationing or engaging in extended stays.”
The reforms also include mandatory applicant interviews and enhanced due diligence through the Joint Regional Communications Centre (JRCC), designed to strengthen background checks and improve transparency.
Browne recommended that all member states within the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) operating CIP programs harmonize their implementation timelines to avoid opportunities for “arbitrage.”
He proposed that all five participating countries—Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Dominica, and Grenada—pass and enforce the new legislation by November 1.
The bill, which has already been endorsed by regional heads of government, is expected to complete its second and third readings in Parliament later this week, followed by Senate consideration next week.
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You believe that, biometrics with money grabbers? The dig say he can sniff out the money. That statement is meant to hoodwink the international community as he posits himself Infront of the nation saying this we become the legitimacy,
Self enrichment all the way!
Huuumm. 30 days huh?
” These are busy business people”. Funny how this man err on the side of the corrupt rich, instead of the side of safety for his people.
Criminals has and will continue to infiltrate your very pourous immigration system you joker..so who is looking out for the hard working/voting Antiguan’s who can’t go to sleep at night from getting embezzled by scammers from these foreign countries.
These organized criminals are way ahead of the curve when it comes to scamming, and the people of the Caribbean and very much so Antigua are the most vulnerable. So who is looking out for the voters Gatson?
If it’s not you, move your arse aside and let real caring people run the country.
Money money money is not everything.
What the island needs right now is peace and quiet, not more money. What’s the sense of making all this money and can’t even spend it peacefully, with thrives coming to take it from every corner?
Y’all better get rid of this man while the going is half way tough right now, because it’s going to get worse. The petty criminals are coming for their piece of the pie, because of the years of corruption in high places.
It’s hard to live in a place where you can even trust your neighbors. A damn shame for the good God fearing people of Antigua.
Sad state indeed.
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