On Wednesday, the Cabinet addressed the growing concerns surrounding the Citizenship by Investment Programmes (CIPs) implemented by several Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) countries. The discussion was prompted by a statement from the United States Secretary of State, indicating that the US perceives these CIPs as a potential threat to its national security.
This stance echoes a previous assertion made by the European Union Commission, which was later disproven and the Cabinet remains confident that the US claim will similarly be refuted.
To counter this allegation, the Ministry of Legal Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) have prepared legal briefs and gathered published data to demonstrate the inaccuracies in the US Secretary of State’s position.
Coinciding with the Cabinet meeting in Antigua and Barbuda, the Prime Minister of Barbados, who serves as the Chairman of CARICOM, was engaged in discussions with the US Secretary of State. As a Queen’s Counsel (QC), the Barbadian Prime Minister is well-equipped to advocate on behalf of the OECS countries with CIPs and challenge the United States’ conclusions.
