COMMENTARY: When a passport becomes a badge of shame

The thought of an Iranian fugitive from justice moving seamlessly almost anywhere in the world on a Barbadian passport which he bought for tens of thousands of dollars, would likely send shivers through the spines of virtually every Barbadian.

Or that of a former Nigerian minister who had been indicted by her own house of representatives for siphoning tens of billions of dollars in fuel subsidies from the state, and under investigation by British police on bribery and money laundering charges, carrying a Barbados diplomatic passport, having been secretly appointed an ambassador.

Or that of an unknown number of nationals of lands far away – Iran, Iraq, Russia, virtually everywhere – who have never laid eyes on Barbados, and can hardly point it out on a map, purchasing Barbadian citizenship and we are none the wiser.

Just the thought of it would make every right thinking Barbadian shudder, for we are proud of our country, proud of our symbols, proud of the things we hold dear.

However, as an increasing number of Caribbean countries engage in the practice of selling citizenship, the dangers of criminals and fugitives from justice getting their hands on our passports increase.

Recently, Iranian fugitive Ali Reza Ziba Halat Monfared, 43, the holder of a Dominican diplomatic passport, was arrested in the Dominican Republic and deported to Iran via Cuba and Russia, to face charges of helping to embezzle billions of oil dollars.

Iranian authorities say he had worked alongside tycoon Babak Zanjani, who was arrested in 2013, and was sentenced to death last year for pocketing $2.8 billion while helping the country bypass sanctions.

The government of Dominica later said it had cancelled Monfared’s diplomatic passport in January 2016 after information surfaced “that he may be a person of interest to authorities”.

However, Monfared remains a Dominican citizen, having bought his citizenship via the Citizenship by Investment programme, which the American television network, CBS dubbed “mail order citizenship” because those who purchase Dominica passports never have to place foot, or eyes, on the island.

These buyers of citizenship are not interested in the Caribbean; they simply want access to the countries to which their own nation’s passports will not get them.

The governments involved say they have no choice but to peddle citizenship to keep their economies afloat. They seem to suggest that unless they engage in this highly controversial business their countries will atrophy and ultimately die.

We in Barbados know a thing or two about tough economic times; and as difficult as it is, we congratulate the Freundel Stuart administration for not falling to the temptation to sell our citizenship for pieces of silver. And, no matter how difficult the economy gets, we hope Government never takes this route.

Last year, when Stuart tried to introduce the fingerprinting of travelling Barbadians, one of the reasons he put forward was the importance of protecting the credibility of our passport. We must continue to protect this sacred document by refusing to put it in the hands of just about anyone who can easily afford a few hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Even now, there are serious implications for us. The Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas gives holders of passports from Caribbean Community [CARICOM] states certain privileges, including freedom of movement. It does not discriminate. Whether the holder is born here, obtained citizenship by marriage, or by spending many years here, working hard and contributing to the economy, or is an Iranian national hiding from the law who obtained it via mail order, they all have the same rights.

As Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent and the Grenadines said, it is a troubling thought as “the grant of citizenship without any significant residence requirements or proper due diligence could facilitate criminality, money laundering or, at worst, terrorism and result in damage” to our international reputation.

For this reason, Barbados must join with Gonsalves to help curb this practice.

Currently, there is no shortage of buyers, so those involved in the citizenship selling business see a boom. But how far are they willing to go? Where will they stop? How many must they sell? Can an economy that is entirely dependent on the peddling of its citizenship be truly sustainable?  And, what if these economic citizens satisfy the very basic residency requirements, can they impose their government on us by voting in their numbers?

These are troubling questions that require serious discussion among the CARICOM leaders – although we will not hold our collective breath.

There are a few things that we must hold sacred and on which we cannot put a price. Our citizenship must be at the top of the list. It must not be treated like produce to be haggled over at Cheapside Market on a Saturday morning, or like a gadget to be ordered via Amazon.

Our passport ought not be allowed to become a badge of shame.

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19 Comments

  1. Jackass
    February 16, 2017

    At least most Dominicans own thier land. Ask the writter how many Bajans do? Dominica has sold its passports yes…Bajans has sold their land to the white man. I would prefer my passport being sold and I can own a piece of land in my country. Than my passport is kept sacred and I cannot even go to the bank with a land title. 80% of Bajans have to continue renting until they die. Most times some old broken down houses for so much money. Many of them live in governenment low income houses like crabs in a barrel….for example in the Pine or Gall Hill.

    • Look it
      February 16, 2017

      Man your name suits u to the T. You all will attack anyone who speaks against Skerrit and the crap that he is doing. In my Trump voice …”Sad”

  2. Observing
    February 16, 2017

    It is amazing: Every one outside Dominica is taking this CBI issue and its faulty due diligence and obscure practices seriously, as its infringe on their sovereign rights as citizens except labourites; who will defend at all cost; The questions posed by the writer is what labourites need to ask themselves;

    “Can an economy that is entirely dependent on the peddling of its citizenship be truly sustainable? And, what if these economic citizens satisfy the very basic residency requirements, can they impose their government on us by voting in their numbers?” The latter I know Labourites won’t mind; anything to remain in power.
    I would urge Labourites to listen to Daddy Chess’s second song; very balanced and very thought-provoking. He asked, are we labourites, ever-willing to defend even as the ills of our elected leaders are crippling the country or are we Workers, who see every thing blue esp. if it is said on Q or are we Dominicans, who will see things beyond our political…

  3. LINTON MUST GO
    February 16, 2017

    This is from the Opposition Party in Barbados who’s power hungry in Barbados as well. I was in Barbados the other day. It seems that is the agenda of all oppositions in the Caribbean. When they have nothing to do, that’s what they revert to. Barbados economy is sinking even Dominica is doing better than them.

    • freedom fighter
      February 16, 2017

      Paho, we need a cure for “skerititist” in Dominica

  4. Brinsley John-Rose
    February 15, 2017

    Barbadians are completley against, Levicticus 13, and Dominicam=ns are for it, we are a million times mre moral than you all in Little Lndon,

    “KOMPAREZON!!!!” , “COMPARATION!!!” LIKE SOME DA PEOPLE WILL TELL YOU

  5. $95 Million a Month in Passport Sales
    February 15, 2017

    Stupid article. Passport sales are making Dominican politicians rich beyond their wildest dreams. These don’t care if our passports go to crooks. It’s the crooks that get arrested in the end, not them. All they want is the money – millions of it each and every month into their foreign bank accounts.

    That is what has been going on under the Skerrit regime. You think your stupid article about ‘shame’ will get that and his handlers to stop? No… they will continue to bleed us for everything they can. Why? Because they KNOW that Dominicans are pet monkeys, give them peanuts and they will roll over and let you scratch their tummies for nothing.

  6. Fsociety
    February 15, 2017

    I hate this stupid articles because they make the CIB look like scum. That article is just none sense:

    If I am a billion and I want to invest 1Million dollars in Dominica you are telling me I have to visit the island?
    Are you Crazy. Why should I ? And because I dont want to visit every country I invest in that make me a criminal ?

    I am not saying it cannot be used for nefarious means but you have to remember we have a PRODUCT. CIB is a product of the constitution. Part of marketing a product is going outdere and getting the investment.

    You think people that can avoid to invest in that Portsmouth Resort grows on trees. Rich people never like the idea of coming to an island to stay for 6 MONTHS just to get resident status or citizenship status.

    Hence; the reason why our product starting to making us money and started to be attractive to foreigners. You will attract the criminals nobody can stop that. Its the way of the world. But don’t put the program under bus with your…

    • Brinsley John-Rose
      February 15, 2017

      another farce

  7. zandoli
    February 15, 2017

    We must revert to selling passports What else have these guys done to generate revenue in a sustained manner?

  8. Matt Sam
    February 15, 2017

    How can you imply that thousands of dollars were paid for the passport, can you prove that, or are you also peddling in rumor mongering. Secondly, it is the right of a government to decide how it grows its economy based on what tools are available to it. Barbados may have been in an economic downturn, but the GDP of Barbados in many times over that of Dominica. You are little England, and have enjoyed certain privileges and opportunities that Dominica has never had, and will never have. We chart our own course based on what is available to us. Our government is quite aware the citizenship by investment may not last forever, that is why there is great concentration in hotel development, ( something that you should be quite familiar with ) geothermal development, manufacturing, etc. Please familiarize yourself with all the facts, press statements, Government gazette releases etc. before you fall into the trap of the reckless opposition narrative.

    • Lady Gaga
      February 16, 2017

      It is also the right of a government to not disadvantage its people. This CBI is going to cost us our entry and visa-free travel through Europe and then the passport will in turn be less attractive to these “investors”.

    • One Day Dominica Will Be Free
      February 16, 2017

      Supporters of the CBI programme keep asking for POOF / EVIDENCE to substantiate assertions about the mismanagement of it…

      Why then that you folk refuse to promote the ‘open’ and ‘transparent’ nature of it’s management? – I’m hasten to add, not on the process, which you folks keep regurgitating but on discourses to the GENERAL PUBLIC who are these passport holders and what screening of their character reveals.

  9. nonamegal
    February 15, 2017

    I am so ashamed. There are other ways to stimulate the economy without resorting to passport sales at that level. Come on government!

  10. Sam Makova
    February 15, 2017

    Interesting article. I get the point to be proud of our countries and passports but the facts on this Iranian are to be considered as fake news.
    First of all, you believe the government of Iran statement about this guy? They are the biggest sponsor of terrorism in the world. Don’t you think if this man had broken US laws he would have been already in US custody before that of the Iranians? Second, before he got our citizenship he was living in Malaysia and so how come the Malaysians allowed him to have residency if he was involved in criminal activities? I wish we had other means to make money but till then I vote for taking new citizens that we will never see

    • Really
      February 15, 2017

      Your commentary is ‘Fake Commentary’.

    • The mouth
      February 18, 2017

      Sam Makova, you logic is floored.Iran is the biggest sponsor of terrorism in the world, yet you welcome a citizen of the same as a citizen of Dominica and then with a diplomatic passport. The USA is fully aware that Iran will attempt to sell its oil. China is free to buy oil from Iran. It is Dominica which is a signatory to the sanctions who has broken international law.

      Irrespective of our political views, one of our diplomats has been facilitating the sell of oil from Iran to China and I’m afraid we will be asked to account for our actions.

  11. jerry sinclair
    February 15, 2017

    First class article you are right on every point sadly Dominica at present sees no wrong and is hugely reliant on the sale of Dominican citizenship as he quoted in his article to the DNO the passport progamme can not be underestimated, so your article in respect of ther DLP will be brushed aside as anti government, and as the well reported state of affairs in the presant climate any one who is against the government in Dominica is liable to arrest. however the entire world from the USA to the UK and beyond is now aware especially Fance they seem to have pricked up their ears to this situation so the word is out the next few days should be quite dramatic but now Dominica awaits the next arrest

  12. SN
    February 15, 2017

    What a nice caption: A badge of shame. I could not have said it any better!

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