(Antigua Observer) St. Johns, Antigua – Government is “actively” considering adding Syria to the list of nations, which will be barred from obtaining passports under the Citizens by Investment Programme (CIP).
This is in wake of the recent bombing attacks in Paris, in which Syrians are believed to have been involved.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne said the issue was first considered during the last review in December 2014.
“I would admit that there is a growing concern in terms of the level of terrorism there and we want to make sure, too, that we have very secure borders and clearly it is not only about securing our national security interest but those of our neighbours so consideration is being given to exclude Syrians citizens from the programme,” Browne said.
Government took the decision in December 2014 that it would instruct the CIP unit to deny citizens, of six states, the offer to acquire Antiguan & Barbudan citizenship.
The countries were Afghanistan, Iraq, North Korea, Somalia, Yemen and Iran.
The Antigua & Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) administration said then that the citizens of the six identified states who reside in their country of birth do not qualify.