Dominica opposition presses government on EU demand to end citizenship by investment
OECS leaders plan a high-level delegation to Brussels, while Saint Lucia says it has already acted on EU recommendations to tighten its programme.
ROSEAU, Dominica. Dominica's opposition Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) has called on the government to clarify whether the country is among the Caribbean nations the European Union has told to phase out Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programmes by June 1, 2028, or risk losing visa-free travel to EU member states.
The party noted that Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne had confirmed his country received the ultimatum, while Dominica's Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit had not said whether it also applied to Dominica.
"The government of Dominica has not communicated with the citizens on that matter," the DFP said, adding that Browne had indicated similar requests had been made to other countries with CBI programmes, including Dominica.
OECS mission to Brussels
OECS leaders whose countries operate CBI programmes have announced plans to send a high-level delegation to Brussels. They are seeking direct talks with the presidents of the European Commission and the European Council and with the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
The engagements, the leaders said, will seek "to deepen mutual understanding of the unique vulnerabilities and development realities of small island developing states" and strengthen the partnership with the EU. The leaders met under the chairmanship of Skerrit.
Saint Lucia: security concerns shared
Saint Lucia's government said the growth of CBI programmes had raised national security concerns for both the EU and the United States.
Deputy Prime Minister Ernest Hilaire said both had raised concerns that some people could misuse the programmes to gain entry for purposes that threaten their security.
"We appreciate their concern and we share it and we will work with them to make sure that the programmes do not constitute a security threat to them," he said.
Hilaire said Castries had already implemented EU recommendations, including strengthening legislation and introducing "value metrics". He said the mood within the European Commission had shifted, noting that the EU had taken Malta to court over its own citizenship programme.
He said one EU requirement had been a regional regulator to oversee the programmes and ensure legislative requirements are met.
