US gov’t cautions Caribbean countries over Citizenship by Investment Program

passport stampAlthough the United States government said it understands the potential benefit of the Caribbean countries offering the Citizenship by Investment Program (CIP), it has issued a word of caution concerning individuals who apply for the program.

In a statement issued through the US Embassy in Barbados it said that Caribbean governments should refrain from issuing citizenships to applicants
“unless the issuing government is confident, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the individual is a bona fide applicant”.

The statement said the US government does not approve or disapprove individual aspects of the CIP but countries must ensure that applicants are fully validated and they lack ties to transnational criminal or terrorist organizations.

“The United States strongly believes that all countries have an inherent responsibility to their citizens and the international community to review fully all applicants who seek a nation’s citizenship,” the statement from the US government said. “While the United States government is willing to consult with governments on their citizenship investment programs, the ultimate decisions to offer and how to operate such a program, including the issuance of citizenship and related identifying documents, such as passports to applicants, lie with each individual government and not with the United States.

Countries in the region that have implemented the CIP are Dominica, St. Kitts, Antigua and Barbuda and St. Lucia.

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49 Comments

  1. eat em
    April 20, 2016

    “The United States strongly believes that all countries have an inherent responsibility to their citizens and the international community to review fully all applicants who seek a nation’s citizenship,” the statement from the US government said. HAHAHAHA Mister doe have no responsibility to no citizen. Not even to the constitution of Dominica. However, America, If he continues with this disregard, we the citizens of Dominica give you all the rights and authority to come down and take him away. Well, you really don’t need our help – Just take eem away.

  2. April 17, 2016

    Roosevelt Skerritt,so much for your 5 second due diligence.You have been warned so take note

  3. Hope
    April 15, 2016

    Thank you very much for your concern America. Now, go mind your own backyard!

    You are the biggest importer of people. Your oh so wonderful vetting process lets in the good, the bad and the ugly. Stupzzzzzzzzzzzzz. The audacity of these people!

    • Floridian Diaspora
      April 15, 2016

      Yeah, when that same America start imposing sanctions and restrictions in all you @$$ I HOPE that you with your big mouth will stand up and tell them what you just say there. You seem to be out of touch with reality

      • bigmac
        April 19, 2016

        So what

    • Viewsexpressed
      April 16, 2016

      Hope, read the article again and get the bigger picture. Those who buy our passports do not come to Dominica to live, they go to a US Embassy for visa to go the USA. So we in Dominica do not benefit at all.
      So wipe off your audacity mentality and look at the bigger picture, so do your research first.

    • April 17, 2016

      Hope,let the likes of Skerrit continue with his madness,you can support him all you want,he has been warned.His reckless actions will only make it more difficult for holders of our passports to travel.You don’t have a prosperous destination where Dominicans will want to visit.Therefore your empty sarcasm isn’t worth anything

    • Me
      April 17, 2016

      Ironic comment. Dominica IS in the U.S.A.’s backyard !

  4. TRUTH BE SPOKEN
    April 15, 2016

    Floridian diaspora, why not come home and assist in Development of your country instead of talking what you know nothing about. By clients getting involved in the citizenship program that help our country with development projects and programs. If you require a list of how the funds for the program is spent check with the treasury instead of running your mouth on things you have no facts about. Learn about the program and you will make a contribution for people to learn from. America for instance, along with Canada and other countries have investment programs and Dominica is no exception. If you say you LOVE your country you will not wish its destruction, help build Dominica and stop being a destruction and negative person. As long as there is a GOD above we will prosper. NOW TAKE THAT.

    • Floridian Diaspora
      April 15, 2016

      You said that “as long as there is a GOD above we will prosper.” So let me ask you a question, where God be all now? He underground man? The last time I check he was still above and we still not prospering. So what are you really trying to say? But then again it all depends on what you call prosperity. I know to people like you and fellow laborites red clinic means being prosperous so in that sense you might be right

      • Thomas
        April 15, 2016

        You sounded like such a simpleton. You are wiser than that come on.

      • Concern citizen
        April 15, 2016

        Mr. Truth be spoken,
        the God, Jehovah God which I served is not going to tolerate those corruption, illegality, murder, human tra flicking, and prostitution which u all know about for a fact and u expect ur case to have high priority in the abode of eternal peace, if u want the god above to prosper u tell your earthly “Him” to stop those criminal and murderous things on those DONKEY HOLES stop it once and for all.

    • Viewsexpressed
      April 16, 2016

      The truth is the treasury has no money to really put quality development in place. Just go drive about Dominica. In Dominica we proudly build pit latrine in this day and age of 2016. This country is in poverty, mentally, physically and politically and all caused by this Skerrit led corrupt government.
      The money in the treasury goes to pay 18 ministers, senators, excess advisors, excess ambassadors, endless useless travel. The country is sick and run by illiterate politics

  5. passports to crooks and vagabonds
    April 15, 2016

    Believe me, things start getting hot. Is now Skerritt and his cabal, agents and companies, here and abroad, selling our passports, are trembling like leaves all now. Because some of those wealthy foreigners, who bought/obtained our passports and are in possession of them, have been/are in big trouble with the law, re. fraud, and/or other corrupt acts, in the US, Italy, Nigeria, England to name a few. Rudolph King in US jail received a diplomatic passport. NJ Lap Seng being monitored 24/7 by law enforcement. The former female Nigerian Minister, recently arrested in England, also possess our diplomatic passport and was given big post.

    There are more who the patriots will reveal. Time will tell That passport selling scheme is a scam. Dominica and its citizens have not benefited, Only a few have gotten richer and richer. Where are the investments or hotel? The 5-star Layou River hotel?

    Selling of our passports should be deemed a criminal offence.

  6. Zandoli
    April 15, 2016

    Here is the problem with these warnings: the wheels of government bureaucracy turn very slowly. However, once these wheels turn, they are locked in position.

    In a nutshell, if citizens of these islands draw special attention from the US and other governments from developed countries, it will make life very difficult for our citizens to go past border security officials.

    I know people from the Caribbean who have Indian or Arab sounding names and they are routinely pull over for secondary inspection. I was just in the Caribbean and one guy told me he limits the number of time he travels to Miami because he just does not need the hassle at customs.

    Listen to those warnings my friends (in Dominica).

    • Face the Facts
      April 15, 2016

      The US authorities are taking precaution. It cannot be ascertained that these travelers are authentic ones.
      Some names are on the no-flying list especially if they have the identical last name. This has occurred more than once. Recently it affected a six year-old, as stated through the Toronto Media. Imagine his name was on the no-flying list.
      Those who drive to the US will encounter the same. We can blame the terrorists and ISIS, other terrorists. They have caused a lot of hardships, inconvenience and money for governments, immigration, airlines and their security and passengers. This is why it is not fun to travel as previously. Terrorists are to blame. Travelers must be protected.

  7. Greg
    April 15, 2016

    Man…. All and I mean all terror attacks took place in Europe recently are done by people holding European passports. San Bernandino attack was committed by a terrorist who holds a US passport…

    • Face the Facts
      April 15, 2016

      Some of them were not born in the US or Europe. Some were. Those who were born there are called home-grown terrorists. There should be a great fear of them.

  8. Doc. Love
    April 15, 2016

    To little to late from the U.S, as far as Dominica is concerned. It has been years since the likes of Angello, Linton and Arthie have been warning you about the program. Check the New York Prosecuting Office and you will notice the many ambassadors and others associated with Dominica’s Citizen by Investment awaiting trial for alleged money laundering. In fact, the Prime Minister of Dominica has been accused of being allegedly involved in many scandals involving the program. You have just indicted a friend of his Lap Seng for money laundering. It is also alleged, this friend gave him as a gift of a Mercedes Benz. One has to wonder why an accused money launderer would give a Prime Minister an expensive car like that. Is it because he loves him. It should not only be a caution, but a serious warning to discontinue the program, considering the bad name the program appears to be giving Dominica. The blog, Mas In The Cemetery is International, it is hurting Dominica.

  9. Sam
    April 15, 2016

    It is interesting to hear the US giving such comments provided that the recent terrorist attacks globally were committed by nationals of Belgium, France, U.K. And USA they failed miserably and now they are trying to give us lectures. By the way, Malta, Cyprus, US and Canada have similar programs and the due diligence as far as I know is very basic (you have the money… Cool, the rest is just paperwork…)

  10. jim jones
    April 15, 2016

    u all are so stuped they never say dominica

    • Floridian Diaspora
      April 15, 2016

      Correction Mr. wanna be Jim jones first degree mule. Ok, they never said Dominica but they said Caribbean countries offering the Citizenship by Investment Program. Isn’t Dominica one of the Caribbean countries that offers the Citizenship by Investment Program?

  11. Dawn of Justice
    April 15, 2016

    Iranians have Dominican passports. :lol:

  12. Shaka Zulu
    April 15, 2016

    That’s just a warning from the US that they are paying attention. With the current terrorist global activity which include finding any hole they can get to do harm to US citizens I would take it very seriously. Unlike our government, the US takes its citizens safety for the most part seriously. The fact they issue statement should say it all.

  13. April 15, 2016

    This statement by the United States is clearly a warning cloaked in diplomatic language so that it may not appear that a Superpower is dictating to these smaller sovereign Countries. However, the mere fact that the United States has weighed-in on this issue is enough to put the Countries involved in the CIP on guard. In light of this it would be remiss of us not to note that the Citizenship by Investment Program here in Dominica has been mentioned in a few questionable incidents of issuing passports to individuals who were subsequently found out to be wanted criminals or under serious investigation. Given these facts, it would be quite appropriate to caution the Dominican Government at this time to be very, very careful going forward with regards to the CIP! To further enhance this warning, we must bear in mind that this statement was issued on the heels of the NG Lap Seng matter in a United States Federal Court where Dominican passports has been mentioned.

  14. April 15, 2016

    Mr. Steve Forester is very disingenuous and intellectually dishonest to suggest that the U.S C.I.P program s similar to that of Dominic. Ironically you even gave a sight. There are rules and procedures to be followed and proper consular vetting in the case of he U.S C.I.P. In the case of Dominica it is all about money i some people’s pocket. The list of crooks and criminals who have obtained our passports is long indeed. How many of these so called investors have set up shop in DA.
    It is sad that some of you believe that you can think for Dominicans.

  15. Titiwi
    April 15, 2016

    Of course it is up to each individual country’s government whom they issue citizenships and passports too. Equally it is up to countries, including the U.S.A. to determine whom they grant access to or not.
    Don’t be surprised if the U.S.A. has a list of foreign nationals that have been granted Dominican citizenship and issued Dominican passports under our economic citizenship programme and that in future such citizens may well find it very difficult, if not impossible to secure U.S. visas.
    There is also a real risk that the E.U. may revoke its agreement to grant OECS citizens, who are holders of Caricom passports visas free access, giving security concerns following the events in Paris and Brussels as a plausible reason. This may be applied to specific countries,who’s due diligence procedures are deemed inadequate and suspect. Remember, we had this before whereby Dominican citizens required a visa for the Schengen countries but those of Antigua did not.

  16. Dominican Passports
    April 15, 2016

    Man I dunno allu business, but these passports gotta GO!! We having a buy one get one free special this summer.

  17. AAGabriel
    April 15, 2016

    The U.S. and for that matter the EU will be monitoring this very carefully. If they identify a potential risk to their national security by CARICOM passport holders they will take action. I leave it to all your imagination what that might be but believe me if their security is breached only once they are not going to let go of this again and severe sanctions might follow as a consequence. You have been warned, Skerrit. They will also look at the financial yields of passport sales and where these monies are coming from and where they go.

    • UHURU
      April 15, 2016

      My sentiments exactly !
      Just wait till Ross pulls the medical school outta DA !!!
      It will be a new dimension in misery for the poor masses.

  18. April 15, 2016

    It’s interesting to note that the U.S. has its own similar “Green Card Through Investment” programme: https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-through-job/green-card-through-investment

    • Floridian Diaspora
      April 15, 2016

      It should also be interesting to note that the U.S.A. has military, marines, and other special whatever to defend themselves in desperate times. Can you please tell me what we have in our defense? Maybe we’ll go and pull up behind that state of the art state house like it is the Great Wall of China. Maybe that will see us through

      • April 16, 2016

        Do you think we’re about to get invaded by St. Lucia or something? None of Dominica’s problems would be solved by wasting money on a military. Either way that has nothing to do with what I said.

    • Me
      April 15, 2016

      Steve, you are disingenuous. Of course the U.S.has a citizenship program, as has the U.K. by the way. This has nothing to with green cards but the conditions/prerequisites and trustworthiness of vetting systems. This is particularly relevant at this time when western democracies are under increased risk from international terrorists. It is not acceptable, for instance for a Prime Minister to have the prerogative to overrule the findings of a security report and grant the issuance of a citizenship and passport nonetheless.

    • smdh
      April 15, 2016

      Many like to talk bad about the “selling” of passports from Dominica, but dont understand that many other countries including the hypocritical USA have similar programs. Our issue here is transparency. How many passports have been sold and how much have we collected. Not the programs itself.

      • April 16, 2016

        Thank you, that was my point. I fully agree with all you who are calling for transparency and strict scrutiny of who may participate, I just don’t agree that the very idea of economic citizenship is inherently bad.

    • Gwo Jel
      April 15, 2016

      It’s interesting to note that you would not underline the fact that the due diligence and follow up process of the USA is nothing compared to that of Dominica. Every 6 months we hear of a new criminal or wanted person with our passport. It’s all over the news. Don’t come trying to spread no ignorance there rasta. Stop feeding those foolish ignorant people with more ignorance for them to run and say “but they doing it in america too”…missing the bloody point!

      • smdh
        April 18, 2016

        so who was the last one? and the one before that since they pop up so regularly and its all over the news? give me a name.. or are you just repeating what you heard without any fact? We do have a due diligence here and the US is very much involved in our process. So is the UK.

    • Reader
      April 15, 2016

      Might that be why they didn’t disapprove of it, but rather advised that it be carried out correctly?

      • April 16, 2016

        Perhaps, although they have no problem offering hypocritical advice when they tell other countries not to be tax havens even though they themselves are the world’s largest.

      • smdh
        April 18, 2016

        Listen, for America’ if you arent doing it the American way you arent doing it properly. Thats why first they fight alcohol then made it legal, then fight marijuana, and now making it legal. Yes they have more resources, but they shouldnt dictate how other sovereign nations handle their internal affairs.

  19. Gwo Jel
    April 15, 2016

    women in maucau, rich men in sodom, who can save me now, from who I have become?

  20. Gray
    April 15, 2016

    This is a warning masked in diplomatic language and protocol. It means that the U.S will be monitoring this program very closely… a word to the wise….. no more funny business with the passport program.

    • Dominican Passports
      April 15, 2016

      You just mad because you ain’t getting a dime from our passport sales. $.$ :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

  21. derp
    April 15, 2016

    hmm instead of all that talk America, maybe you should set up an embassy in Dominica where you can screen the people yourselves if you so concerned….

    • Noreen
      April 15, 2016

      You think it’s Americas responsibility, to monitor
      your countrys dirty dealings.If your P.M. doesn’t
      have the means and brains then how good is the
      government?

    • smdh
      April 15, 2016

      actually you dont want these people here. that is when you will see more crime and corruption, when they have a presence and embassy.

  22. Floridian diaspora
    April 15, 2016

    Take heed Mr. thinks he knows it all Skeritt. You better put that article in your pipe and smoke it. Right now there are grave concerns over concerns who’s the holder of our passports because instead of the labor cabal doing a thorough background investigation on the buyers of our passports they sell them on a first come first served plan. Madness!!! You all better rethink that citizenship by investment program because soon enough Dominica will be on the blacklist and known as a transit point for criminals and terrorist. Why do we even have this CIP thing anyway? The other islands mentioned which are St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, are witnessing the profits of selling their passports. But not us. We have no clue where this passport selling money is going, nothing on the ground to show for it. We already know who are the beneficiaries of this programe. I not calling names. Labor ka travay

    • Ridiculousness
      April 15, 2016

      Are you sure you know what you talking about??

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