Dominica’s Citizenship Programme “Main Source of FDI”, Officials Say

passportLike several other countries in the Caribbean, the Commonwealth of Dominica, an independent island-state with just 72,000 inhabitants, runs an economic citizenship programme enabling foreigners to acquire citizenship of the island and the passport to go with it by paying money into a state fund or making a sizeable real estate investment. The country’s passport policies have in the past occasionally raised eyebrows abroad – and are currently a hot topic in Dominica’s highly polarized domestic politics.

In an in-depth interview, two senior Dominican officials provide a rare glimpse behind the scenes of the programme. Vince Henderson is Dominica’s permanent representative to the United Nations. Emmanuel Nanthan heads the country’s Citizenship by Investment Unit. They reveal how the programme works in practice, and discuss its potential contribution to the broader economic development of the island.

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41 Comments

  1. Truth iTell
    February 17, 2016

    North Korea won’t patronize the Dominica passport sale – So de gov-we-ment dissing Pyongyang and condemning their nuk test. Should Pyongyang request 10,000 passport, then it would be “NO PROBLEM” Express mail.

  2. Anthony P. Ismael
    February 17, 2016

    This program by far, is probably the most efficient method for Ministers and those well connected lawyers to build their mini-mansions, purchase their Land Cruisers and Nissan four wheel drive vehicles. How could I have omitted those overseas jollies at the cost of tax payers. What a crying shame.

  3. REAL!!!!
    February 17, 2016

    we need a full account passport money from 2002 not from Erika period only.

    Is these hotels which don’t have tourist to put in them and no adequate air/sea access to Dominica are being used to now dump all the money which is alleged to be hidden in account in the INTL market.? Are the folks getting worried about the INTL investigate about Dominica passport and money trail,,,,,, just asking.

    My advise is if the allegation is true, bring the money into the treasury so it can be used for sustainable strategic development and look for pardon down the line instead of doing these hotel things to try and hold on to the passport money.

    I smell a BIG RAT!!!!!!!

  4. forreal
    February 16, 2016

    one thing smart opposition Dominicans,or think you all smart,but I not letting all you slide,i will bringing it up,de layou project that linton end up paying for his mouth,which it seem eddison did not bother to advise him,started with them,so I do not know what linton really trying dig up,look the facts right there,post you all comments on it,hypocrits,you all do not know what you all are really opposing in dominica today,who are the real corrupted people,or who just power hungry?

  5. Shhhh
    February 16, 2016

    Citizenship by investment….hmmm…if I understand this well, a foreigner should only get a Dominican passport if he/she only invest in the country, either by opening some kind of business or supporting a business here or something of similar nature..A passport should not be given to someone as if they’re just merely buying it because they want to have dual citizenship, or they just want to know they have a Dominican passport. it sounds as if, passports are being sold to people like they are goods, like an exported good for profit or as a means to encourage them to come here and open a business not even being sure that they will come here to open anything. If this is so, it is very wrong and very soon our passports will be of little recognition or value. Our passports are not goods for consumption, stop selling it just for the sake of making money.

    • forreal
      February 16, 2016

      did you really understand what you read on the investment the monies are cashing in since TS Erika and what the monies are being used for,or are you just opposition dumbstruct,like the fool of the opposition leader we have,even though he is the chairperson and continues his ridiculous game of,think he to smart for his own good,can’t you guys see that linton and people in skerrit’s cabinet have a personal agenda,this not no dam politics,this is something personal being blown out of poportion

    • Ma Moses
      February 17, 2016

      You are so right. The Prime Minister has said that people who want our passport do not even have to visit Dominica to get one. That tell us a lot. And secondly, if the money from this programme goes into approved hotel projects why is it that Dominicans like myself, who do not have to buy a passport for such big money can not invest money in any of these projects and own a share in them? Or is it because all these projects are similar to the failed Layou river one perhaps?

      • forreal
        February 17, 2016

        ma moses who said you can not invest in those projects,all you people just do not know what you all talking about,just blowing wind

      • Ma Moses
        February 17, 2016

        Let me tell you for real, I know because I have asked if I could invest in those projects and was categorically told that they are for Citizenhip by Investment only.
        I was also told that the people buying such a Citzizenship do not get actual ownership in any project but a certificate in some sort of limited liability partnership. For example, that Kempinski hotel would not be owned by the people who put up the money for it when they buy their citizenship.
        I would love to be proven wrong and perhaps you could check what I said with Govt. and report to us what they tell you.

  6. you already know
    February 16, 2016

    us blk ppl cant do nothing without making it messy or corrupt. if is pastor we have our hand in the church money or in someone marriage 8-O ….or workin in a supermarket we taking is not when you have 500 000 in front of you you will behave… imagine how money end up in gas station account?

    • Me
      February 17, 2016

      Maybe because the gas station owner is the same person who carried that money??

  7. Dan Tanner
    February 16, 2016

    Corruption. And no wonder the US shuns Dominicans.

  8. I like it
    February 16, 2016

    It funny that no where in the article figures was mentioned. If you are projecting a large out from the program; though, not as large as St. Kitts; tell us against what figures, you make that projection.

  9. event
    February 16, 2016

    If you read the article in its entirety you will realise that it is very focused on the claims of our Opposition party here in Dominica, with questions frequently starting with words like “The opposition claims… or the opposition also highlights…”
    It gives the feeling that the opposition had somehow contacted and or instructed that writer to do that article. It does not look like independent journalism. If it is indeed Mr Henderson and co answering the questions I still find they gave fair answers. However, the article looks incomplete, like there was some part or parts removed or left out. It does not look like how the article initially intended to be. Maybe it had to be more negative. Then again Skerrit had call out the writer of that same article a few days ago in St Joseph and asked Mr Linton why was that same writer camping out at an Opposition member of Parliament family home? Really? Why?

    • event
      February 16, 2016

      That same day Skerrit also said “several of the nasty, salacious articles circulated globally about Dominica and Roosevelt Skerrit in recent weeks, were first written on the same computer, even though they were purportedly authored by persons living in various parts of the world.” Maybe thats why the article may have been toned down. Are they trying to destroy Dominica for greed of power?

    • Shaka Zulu
      February 17, 2016

      The government not giving any details. What u expect.

  10. Ideal
    February 16, 2016

    What happens if sale of passport drops? Where will we get money to run the island? With tourism and agriculture dying what will our people do? How will we live?..Most of all we want to see proof of all the money they say they are making. Skerrit is a coward he could not stand up to the questions Minister of finance.

    • Tjebe Fort
      February 17, 2016

      I wouldn’t worry about that too much garcon. It is obvious that most of that money does not come to Dominica anyway unless it is by way of a laundry. And didn’t mr. Henderson also say that the money first goes into a special account and the P.M. has to sign for any of that money to go into the consolidated govt. fund? Maybe that special account is a an off-shore account in Dubai?

  11. Dave Bertrand
    February 16, 2016

    The heat is on. Most probably we will get to know more about the 400 and so passports which were sold under the Economic Citizenship Programme. Maybe we might get a detailed audit report. There are Dominicans out there who are not Dumbinicans. It’s good to talk. Let’s agree to disagree.

  12. Shaka Zulu
    February 16, 2016

    Dominica needed visa entry into Canada in November 2001 not 1999 as Vince claims. I know cause I had already had a ticket to go to Canada when it was implemented. Erika had to be mentioned. Keep answering questions in the international press. Is in Dominica alone you guys balls big.

    • February 17, 2016

      That Benjamin woman from Wesley /Canadian Citizen, knows for a fact that the false information and lies that the Labour Party is spreading in Dominica regarding Canada issuing Visa for Dominican Nationals was implemented in 2001, and not in 1999, listening to Tony Astaphan and the other Labor party cronies blaming Edison James and UWP with regards to Dominican needingvVisa to travel to Canada is pure rubbish. Vince, Tony and the others will fool some Dominicans but not all, Dominicans in Canada need to get the info and foward it to their people in Dominica, Vince stop spreading lies, stop fooling Dominican

  13. Viewsexpressed
    February 16, 2016

    These guy, gangs are really taking us Dominicans for a BS ride and has been doing so since the emergence of Skerrit as PM. They polish things nice, wear expensive suits, put on a good front and neither of them can tell us where is that Dominica is developing.
    Vince yo can do better than that, yo are a big disappointment.

  14. Mitch
    February 16, 2016

    Wow this is the loudest and ‘wool over your eyes’ infomercial I have seen and read in along time.!!!!! Wow who wrote this -that Jeng or what ever R THE Chinese man’s name who is who is Skerrit’s PRO?

    Vince and Emanuel- you guys are joking with Dominica- And let me tell you this is not a laughing matter.

    This infomercial is nothing but snake oil.’

    • Ideal
      February 16, 2016

      Skerrit sending the two ….. to face the questions and they will take the fall and blame when things blowup in their faces.

  15. February 16, 2016

    Traitors :-D

  16. FORKIT
    February 16, 2016

    DAMAGE CONTROL. to late, we want to know how much diplomatic passports being sild and where is the money.

    • FORKIT
      February 16, 2016

      sold

      • Me
        February 17, 2016

        Forkit, also “many” diplomatic passports instead of “much” diplomatic passports.

  17. Truth iTell
    February 16, 2016

    We still waiting! much more on the back burner. I never jump up before – but when you see this government is no more; then I may have jump up and roll down and spin around for joy.

  18. Shameless
    February 16, 2016

    Layvay Dominichen layvay souplay papa bondieu! ….. Dominicans are just sitting idle talking about is labor my family always vote so is they I voting. God please help us emancipate ourselves from mental slavery so our future generation will not spend their time cursing and ridiculing us.

    Somebody will pay some day soon.

    Always assertive! :twisted:

  19. Delvin Castro
    February 16, 2016

    How embarrassing? Skerrit is the one all in Honk Kong & Dubai giving speeches for our passport but when it come to interviews he sending nanthan and vince, i don\’t trust mister one bit.

  20. Thorbjørn Jagland
    February 16, 2016

    Till Bruckner on dem fellas but why skerrit docking him, he quick too meet maduro and have loud mouth in St.Joe, something big coming man.

  21. Doc. Love
    February 16, 2016

    Vince can have hundreds of interviews relating to the Citizen By Investment Program with whoever his wants. If he really wants to impress Dominicans that this program above board, he must seat with Mr. Angello Alleyne of Q95 and be questioned. Until such time, he is just blowing hot air into the wind. In case he is afraid to be interviewed by Mr. Alleyne, he must call his show on a Sunday night. He regularly calls Kairi in defense of his Government, why not do the same with the Angello Alleyne show.

  22. Rat Poison
    February 16, 2016

    Q: What is the scale and scope of Dominica’s Citizenship by Investment Programme?

    Answer-Vince: VH: After Tropical Storm Erika [which wiped out an estimated 90% of Dominica’s GDP in August 2015] the Citizenship by Investment Programme was a lifeline

    Vince, you all acting like ants that fall in oil. Bro, what about all those years before Erika? Vince, what exactly was money from the CIP used for, since Erika? To throw a big party for Patricia Scottland?

    Ok Vince, seeing you and Nanthan were not afraid to face The Huffington Post like the cowboy was, can you now meet the local press and answer some questions that popped out during your interview with Tim Buchner? Boy all you sure exposed Skerrit to the enemy lol

  23. Channel 1
    February 16, 2016

    Just take a look at how so-called educated people does answer (or avoid answering) certain questions.

    “Question: What are the approval criteria?”

    And just look at the response to the “WHAT” part of the question. This is very telling folks.

    “VH: We have a very rigorous process of approval. We learned from the experiments of other neighbours, and also from our own, including the Layou River hotel project [a high profile citizenship investment project spanning several administrations during the 1990s and 2000s that ended in failure].”

  24. Channel 1
    February 16, 2016

    But wait nuh, isn’t that article linked to the story above from the same Till Bruckner, Skerrit was ranting about in his nonsensical rambling de other day in St Joe????

    Y’all remember de nonsensical speech right – https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/politics/full-speech-of-pm-skerrit-at-dlp-meeting-in-st-joseph/

    Look for what Skerrit had to say then in that speech (about midway through de speech) in the link above about:

    1. Till Bruckner

    2. Dem foreign journalistic assassins that the UWP has teamed up UWP

    • event
      February 16, 2016

      Yes, and your point is?

      • Titiwi
        February 16, 2016

        Why would mr. Skerrit rile like that against a foreign journalists when two of his Ambassadors give such a positive review of our CBI programme to that same journalist, who reports their comments verbatim?
        Was this interview conducted after mr. Skerrit’s outburst in St. Joseph and with his specific approval? I am just trying to make sense of things.

    • Titiwi
      February 16, 2016

      The date of publication of Till Bruckner’s report by Huffington Post is today, 16 Feb. 2016. It would be interesting to know the date the interview with Vince Henderson and Emannuel Nanthan took place.

  25. I want to know
    February 16, 2016

    FINALLY!!! The lies and deception of Skerrit and his corrupt government are now beginning to unfold. Although I am no longer a supporter of this administration, but as a Dominica, I am deeply hurt and offended at the manner Mano and Hendo answered to the questions posed to them. Quite clearly you could see the lies, cover up they tried just did not work. For example, when cornered, Vince had this to say “VH: Admittedly, our record on publicizing these things is not the best. and Vince gave an example…How laughable, though you don’t want to laugh since it is our country that is made to look stupid.

    Interestingly though, Skerrit who is PM and Minister of finance ran away from the interview and allow poor Vince and Manno to try to stammer their way out. What a joke!

    Why didn’t Tony Astaphan who always speaks for Skerrit, on just about all subjects, do the interview this time so he could use his legal mind to cover Skerrit? Poor Vince and Mano revealed our secrets to the enemy…

  26. February 16, 2016

    You all politicians are joking,stop making people laugh because this is not a joke,,

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