St. Lucia is to give consideration to the introduction of an economic citizenship programme

Basseterre, St. Kitts (CUOPM) – Another Caribbean nation said it is giving consideration to introduce an economic citizenship programme.

St. Lucia’s Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Kenny Anthony said the introduction of the economic citizenship programme is in an effort to boost its investment portfolio.

Describing the current economic climate as “severe, debilitating and oppressive “ Prime Minister Anthony, who is preparing to present the 2014/15 national budget said St Lucia may well have to look at initiatives that it once “frowned upon.”

“This is a difficult environment perhaps calling for different responses,” he said.

“I think we cannot close our eyes because it’s an option we may have to consider and in so doing we may have to look at the experiences of other countries,” Prime Minister Anthony told reporters.

Prime Minister Anthony said St. Lucia as a county has “huge problems on our hands,” stating that what was rejected previously will now have to be re-examined.

Other countries in the region, including Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis and Antigua Barbuda have launched their citizenship by investment programmes, which grants citizenship of a country to individuals who invest money to a country’s development.