Features

Global Citizenship – New Feature of World Civilization

St Lucia launched its Economic Citizenship Programme in Monaco last week. Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony delivered the keynote address at the launching.

The following is the second of two parts of that address entitled “GLOBAL CITIZENS – NEW FEATURE OF WORLD CIVILISATION”:

UNDERSTANDING OUR PERSONALITY

But there are other secrets about the Saint Lucian person that cannot be replicated anywhere else: we are a warm, hospitable, generous and engaging people. It is one thing to have a beautiful country, beautiful topography but it is really the people who inhabit that land that makes the vital difference. We do not have to train our people to be hospitable, to be generous, to be engaging, to be kind. It is natural, it belongs to us. It is not servitude, it is not polished smiles and learned lines. It stems from a passion to please, and a love to share. That is why we have been so successful at marketing our country.

Some say it is all explained by our mixed culture, bequeathed by our unique history and turbulent past, seven times French and seven times British. We are a mixed people, with a mixed culture. We are a mixture of Africa, of France, of England. We are also a mixture of the environment that created us.

Our African ancestry has given us a passion for dancing, has given us our creativity in music, in artistic expression. And the French have given us a “joie de vivre,” and then the British have helped to tame the French side of us, have helped mould our personalities, perhaps better manage our emotions, and contain our excesses.

We love to be defined by our ‘Kweyolness’. It is really what defines us. The authenticity of the Saint Lucian, who he/she is really lies in our Kweyol culture, our Kweyol language, our Kweyol lifestyle and that is what makes our personalities so different, so full of life, colour and character.

This is my Saint Lucia. We have always dedicated ourselves to shaping the world because we believe we can make a difference to world civilisation. Similarly, we expect that when we offer citizenship, we want our new citizens to enrich our Saint Lucia, enhance our global standing and ensure that our proud heritage endures.

I trust that you can now appreciate why I am a jealous guardian of Saint Lucian citizenship. Notwithstanding, I have accepted the need to move beyond the constraints of my sentimentality to approve the establishment of a programme and to be here today to announce that Saint Lucia is implementing a Citizenship by Investment Programme.

A MODEL OF CONSENSUS

We have taken considerable time to study the industry – its characteristics, its pitfalls, the criticisms, the praises, the errors made – and to ensure that we learnt best from those who went before us.

Once we were satisfied that it was a viable option worth pursuing, we established a National Task Force, with broad based representation, to examine various programmes, determine whether Saint Lucia should pursue a programme, and if so, what should be the characteristics of such a programme. Once completed, the Task Force submitted its report to the Cabinet of Ministers for review.

The Cabinet of Ministers accepted the Report and asked the Task Force to disseminate it for public review and feedback. Upon receipt of public feedback, Cabinet agreed to table the necessary legislation in Parliament.

The legislation was supported by all elected members. We therefore launch this programme without political rancour, with the blessing of both Government and the Opposition. This is a remarkable statement of national consensus, a rarity in the competitive politics of our region.

We believe that our programme must be guided by a clear strategic objective and implemented with defining principles.

Overall, we will always be guided by balancing our investment needs, attracting the best placed persons to become citizens and managing the number of new citizens. Importantly, we want to translate our reputable efficiency and integrity to the management of the programme.

A DIFFERENTIATED APPROACH

Accordingly, the programme will be characterised by the following:

The programme must be transparent. This starts with all stakeholders appointed by government to be publicly announced and Gazetted. Additionally, the Minister with responsibility must table an annual report in Parliament. The Minister must provide an account of what monies are used for and allow Parliament to debate the report.

The programme must be well regulated. This involves an independent Board which will provide oversight of the functioning of the Unit and ensure due compliance with all regulations and laws of Saint Lucia.

The programme must be well managed. This involves engaging the best qualified persons who will receive the highest level of training. The Unit will provide clear guidelines and timeframes which must be adhered to. We expect the Unit to function at a high level of efficiency and output.

The programme must be differentiated and exclusive. This involves requiring applicants to have a net worth of US$3 million to qualify for consideration. Additionally, we have set a limit of 500 applications annually.

The programme must be consistent with our national priorities. This involves offering a menu of options for investment and clearly defined areas of economic activity, in line with our development needs at this time.

We hope that this will ensure we use the programme for strategic developmental reasons whilst attracting persons who are best placed to invest in Saint Lucia.

The programme must be consonant with our value for our citizenship. This means the acceptance of new citizens will not be a transactional relationship. It has to be an interactional relationship. Once someone becomes a citizen enjoying all the rights and benefits of citizenship, we will ensure that the necessary space and opportunity is created to enjoy and to contribute to national development.

I don’t need to provide extensive details on this occasion. The Regulations, governing the programme will be shared with you. They provide further details on each aspect of the Programme. I invite you to review it and to share your views with us. It is going to be a daunting yet exciting journey for us. We are comforted by the support of the many friends which we have made over the last two years and I trust we will continue to receive your support and guidance. We have come here not only to announce our programme but also to learn from you. The presence of several of our lawyers and professionals for this event attest to this.

In conclusion, I take the opportunity to formally announce that the Saint Lucia Citizenship Programme will commence accepting applications for citizenship by investment on January 1, 2016.

I thank you.

1 Comment

  1. Un murmure de paix.

    Dans la vigne
    un regard
    assoupi qui
    chante le
    matin et la
    voix du soleil.

    Francesco Sinibaldi

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