Opposition Leader reiterates support for economic citizenship programme
Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace. *Photo credit: caribbeanperspective.com
KINGSTOWN, St Vincent, CMC – Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace has dismissed concerns by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines government over the economic citizenship programme, saying both the United States and Canada have such programmes.
“The point is, when you establish such programmes, they must be tight and well managed. This is a way of attracting people to your country to make investments,” Eustace said on a radio programme hosted by his main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP).
On Friday, while winding up debate on the 2010 national budget, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves said that his party would not support such a project.
A number of Eastern Caribbean countries had embarked on the citizenship scheme but the Unity Labour Party (ULP) administration repealed the relevant laws shortly after coming to office in 2001.
Gonsalves told legislators last week that his government is bombarded with offers for resumption of the scheme. He said that a company had written to him requesting a meeting to discuss the facilitated migration of 3,500 persons representing a return of EC$850 million (US$313.8 million).
“Please be advised that my government has absolutely no interest in selling my country’s passport or citizenship. The highest office in our land is that of citizen, and it is not for sale. Similarly, our passport is sacrosanct and is not a tradable commodity,” Gonsalves said in a letter denying the request for a meeting.
But Eustace said St. Vincent and the Grenadines needed such an economic citizenship programme, noting that it was “doing well” in St. Kitts and Nevis.
“In this (economic) climate that we have in St. Vincent and the Grenadines today, we can’t afford to put on any new taxes on our nationals at this time. People are under too much pressure right now and we have to look for avenues to raise revenue. But we have to do it in particular way,” Eustace, a trained economist said.
The former prime minister noted that the EC$913.5 million (US$338.3 million) budget for 2010, which parliament passed last week, did not include any taxes and Gonsalves had removed Value-Added Tax (VAT) on wheat and chicken.
Eustace said an NDP administration would remove the VAT from all “basic food” items and would pay the fees for students taking Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) and similar examinations.
People can promise anything when they are not in power!
Let me say to professor king , the same can be said for the opposition and the Government alike. The NDP promisses are no different from ULP when the shoe was on the other foot. During the 2001 uprising in SVG Ralph was right there with the protesters, voicing unpleasant remarks. Only becaused he had his eyes on the prize. But we know when Ralph get into power such demonstration will not take place. All those controlling hidden agenda was in the now PM hip pocket. His first move for total control A new Constitution to which most of the contents were up to interpurtation for which he had over riding powers.
New electorial boundries were entrenched in the constitution that we said NO to , However , Ralph is bent on taking it to us a little piece at a time. The PM will do anything to win the next election, dont get me wrong I will do the same given what is up for grabs. The PM is shaking hands with the{ DEVIL } and we the people will not be standing behind him . I have heard what enslavement was/is like Ralph foreparents were right their as part of the oppressive force, dont forget the now Prime MInister is a product of that enslavement mentality. His intension is to enslaved us once again, this time through legal means. Prime Minister is not enough for him, he wants to be PRESIDENT that will give him the right to call us{ COMRADS} not Brothers and Sisters, because he is not a Brother.
Mr Eustace if you remove VAT where will the replace REVENUE comes from to make up for the short fall?. Ralph has already made a mistake by removing the VAT on some items , also depriving his treasury of such
needed Revenue so you see both of them are making errors. Lets admit they don’t know it all, even though they want us to believed they do. SVG have been selling citizenship for ever, this not new so dont get your nickers in a bunch it dosent make or brake us.
I have had sometime to digested the idea of Economic Citizenship program. Mr Eustace is correct by saying countries as Canada and the United States have such programs . It is working well for those countries , it is a program that is tightly managed. In my estimation we already have such programs , almost half of the Grenadines have been sold to rich individuals and conglomorates form around the world, they all have SVG passports. So when the Prime Minister said he wants to involved young people in the debate, it is just a smoke screen to confuse the population.
My concerned with this program is, you dont get something for nothing. If we are willing to invite people to come and invest in our country , normally,we have to give something. In most cases to detriment of our people. They drive up the price of land, houses, etc thus making us totally or half dependant on those rich folks, which may put us back into a second round of slavery, and we don’t want to go back there.
On the other hand we are in a tight spot , with no know natural resources we almost obligated to bend-over and take it where it hurts, sad to say. If we are going to go that route it must be with a government the people can trust and right now I do not trust Ralph any futher than I can throw him. In Ralph’s head we as Black people are like animals in a bull-pen who can still be coroaled and brought to our knees. I must remind the Prime Minister we are a different breed of Vincentains, we are better Educated , we are opinionated, and not afraid to express ourselves, very angery at times I may add.