Prime Minister Browne Defends Integrity of Antigua and Barbuda’s Citizenship by Investment Programme
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has strongly defended the integrity of Antigua and Barbuda’s Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) amid recent speculation and accusations from political opponents. During a public address, Prime Minister Browne sought to reassure citizens and the international community of the program’s rigorous standards and ethical practices.
“We have had our challenges, with speculation associated with our programs,” Browne acknowledged. He addressed concerns raised by political adversaries, who have suggested that the CIP has been abused and that some politicians have enriched themselves through the program. Browne firmly dismissed these claims, emphasizing that the CIP operates with the highest level of integrity.
“There is no such abuse in our program,” he asserted. “We have and continue to operate a program with integrity, one in which those who acquire Antiguan and Barbudan citizenship would not have to worry about any revocation of their citizenship because of any bad dealings or corrupt practices.”
To further bolster the program’s credibility, Prime Minister Browne highlighted the introduction of a sanctions list, which bars citizens from sanctioned countries from acquiring Antiguan and Barbudan citizenship. “We have a sanctions list, probably of about eight different countries,” he explained, noting that Antigua and Barbuda was the first Caribbean nation to implement such a measure. This, according to Browne, is a clear indication of the government’s commitment to maintaining the program’s integrity.
In addition to the sanctions list, the CIP also requires recipients of citizenship to spend a short period in the country, typically five working days, to ensure a genuine connection to the nation. Browne emphasized that this requirement is intended to demonstrate to the international community that Antigua and Barbuda is not running a “mail-order citizenship program.”
Browne also revealed that numerous entities within the CIP industry have approached the government with proposals that were ultimately rejected due to concerns about the potential impact on the country’s reputation and the financial returns for the government. “We have not engaged in any underselling or racketeering,” Browne stated. “We have been approached by numerous actors within that CIP space, and we turned them all down.”
He further explained that while some of these entities had made presentations to the cabinet, they were rejected when it became clear that the proposed yields were insufficient and could potentially devalue Antiguan and Barbudan citizenship. “We saw many of them end up in other countries operating their programs,” Browne added, underscoring that Antigua and Barbuda’s government is committed to operating within the confines of the law and maximizing the program’s benefits for the nation.
Prime Minister Browne reassured the people of Antigua and Barbuda that the CIP is managed with transparency and accountability, ensuring that the country’s reputation remains intact while providing significant economic benefits.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua! We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.Contact us at [email protected]
