CASTRIES, St. Lucia – St. Lucia's government has dismissed opposition concerns that the United Kingdom government would place visa restrictions on citizens here as it did with Dominica last week solely for migration and border security reasons.
Dr. Ernest HilaireLondon said that the visa which went into effect immediately meant that nationals of Dominica and three other countries would also be required to obtain a Direct Airside Transit Visa if they intend to transit via the UK.
The UK government said that a “careful consideration of Dominica’s operation of a citizenship by investment scheme “has shown clear and evident abuse of the scheme, including the granting of citizenship to individuals known to pose a risk to the UK”.
Dominica and St. Lucia are among a handful of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries with a Citizenship by Investment Programme (CBI) through which foreign investors are granted citizenship of the island in return for making substantial investment in the socio-economic development of the country.
Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire has dismissed suggestions by the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP) that St. Lucians could be next to need a visa to enter Britain.
In the statement, the UWP said it is “deeply concerned” at reports suggesting that St. Lucia may lose its visa-free access to the UL in the coming months.
“The reports indicate that the decision is a direct response to consistent concerns raised about Saint Lucia’s Citizenship by Investment Programme,” the party said, adding that the e current visa-free arrangement has provided thousands of St. Lucians with the opportunity to visit the United Kingdom for leisure, business, and to connect with family and friends without the burden and expense of obtaining a visa.
“The potential loss of this privilege has raised alarm and apprehension among our people and will have significant implications for our citizens, affecting their freedom to travel, their ability to maintain family ties, and their participation in international business and cultural exchanges.
“The United Kingdom has been a longstanding partner and destination for many Saint Lucians, and the prospect of losing this visa waiver is distressing to the entire nation,” the opposition party said.
“Could this be indicative of rising security concerns stemming from St. Lucia’s willingness under this Labour administration to court individuals who should undergo greater scrutiny in the CIP process? Only the Minister for Investment and the Prime Minister can clarify those issues,” the UWP said, urging the government “to keep the public informed and engaged regarding their actions and progress in addressing this matter”.
But Hilaire told reporters that the British government statement had clearly indicated that its its actions where against Dominica.
“They never mentioned St. Lucia, never mentioned St. Kitts, never mentioned Antigua, never mentioned Grenada,” Hilaire said , noting that a story had been circulating here from an unknown source, declaring that after Dominica, St. Lucia would be next in August, and others would follow in September and October.
Hilaire told reporters that everyone focuses, not on the official British government statement, but on the article from the unknown source.
“As far as we know, and we are in constant dialogue with all our international partners, there are no issues in our CBI that need addressing now. Our CBI is reputed to have one of the best, if not the best due diligence process.
“There has been no issue brought before us as relates to our CBI. If, and I repeat, if any international partner raises any issue with us, we will address it. At this point, there is nothing that has been flagged to us,” he stated, adding that St. Lucia was still reviewing the CBI to make it better.
The Deputy Prime Minister said that St. Lucia would soon announce the measures for is streamlining the application process, strengthening due diligence and changing the CBI to more reflect the market.
