![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Letters-to-editor-3200x1680-642x337.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Dear Editor,<\/p>\n
It is very disheartening and disappointing (even bordering on unfair) to hear that direct descendants of Dominican born grandparents and a mother who is registered as a Dominican are disqualified from obtaining citizenship by descent.<\/p>\n
Section 101 of the Dominica Constitution and Section 8 and Amendment 20(1) of the Citizenship Act define the investor program in law, legally granting eligible persons\u00a0instant citizenship in the country by a Certificate of Naturalization.<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Upon approval by the Prime Minister of Dominica, the client will be promptly issued a Certificate of Naturalization and will receive a Dominica passport within seven days.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Foreign ownership of real estate in Dominica has increased rapidly over the past few years and Americans are retiring to the country in record numbers (with full citizenship)<\/p>\n If the applicant maintains ownership for five years, they are eligible to re-sell the property under the citizenship by investment program but still retain the full citizenship!<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n It is mind boggling to see that total strangers with absolutely no ties to Dominica can put down money and qualify for “economic citizenship” and in a short period of time obtain irrevocable citizenship\u00a0with full rights and privileges as well as a passport.<\/p>\n Also in addition to that, they require no physical residency or mandatory interview (Dominica does not require foreign nationals applying for citizenship to attend an interview)<\/strong>\u00a0, whereas I am required to after working (with a valid work permit) and living in Dominica for 7 years or more.<\/p>\n A citizenship by investment Dominica passport is valid for ten years at a time, and can be renewed for life since citizenship in the country is never revocable under any circumstances.<\/p>\n They will be granted full and legal citizenship for themselves and their families, issued a Certificate of Naturalization and will receive a passport within a week…and what\u00a0REALLY<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0hurts and adds insult to injury is that they can pass their bought nationality on to future generations by descent (by purchase!)<\/p>\n The Dominica citizenship [by] investment program offers successful participants virtually all the same rights as people who were born on the island, including the right to vote in political elections.<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Yes, I will reiterate how very disheartening and disappointing this is to me and the others who are considering applying as well.<\/p>\n I truly hope that this email can be shared with the powers that exist within the Government to somehow counteract this and give consideration to my and any other aspiring offspring of Dominican grandparents the same “rights and privileges” of bought citizenship.<\/p>\n As I proof-read my letter, it deeply saddens me even more to see that I can\u2019t partake or enjoy the birthplace of my ancestors while others with absolutely no ancestral ties can.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Thank you for your time and space.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Dear Editor, It is very disheartening and disappointing (even bordering on unfair) to hear that direct descendants of Dominican born grandparents and a mother who is registered as a Dominican are disqualified from obtaining citizenship by descent. Section 101 of…","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":237679,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","footnotes":""},"categories":[11,235,15,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-264864","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","category-homepage-carousel","category-letters-to-the-editor","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n