ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, March 10 2015 – The Gaston Browne administration has scoffed at a newspaper report that it has made changes under which investors could qualify for citizenship under the island’s Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP).
Government spokesman Lionel Hurst said “there is no requirement under the Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Programme for anyone to purchase any of the units under the Sweet Homes project in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
“The contractual arrangement with the UAE project is that it can refer persons to the CIP for consideration, and would be paid a commission for doing so in an open and transparent manner, Hurst said.
He was reacting to an opposition claim that “fresh questions” were being asked regarding the agreement reached with a firm in the United Arab Emirates (UAE),
Hurst said anyone referred to Antigua and Barbuda’s CIP by the Sweet Homes project are required to invest in Antigua and Barbuda, in accordance with the laws of the country and in accordance with the CIP.
He said that there are only three ways in which any applicant could be considered including an investment of at least US$400,000 in real estate here or a contribution of US$200,000 to the National Development Fund.
Citizenship is also granted if a person makes a business investment of US$1.5 million in the economy.
“All applicants for citizenship by investment from the Sweet Homes project who have been successful have paid the full sum of money due under the programme, consistent with the law.
“It is, therefore, entirely misleading for anyone to suggest that Antigua and Barbuda is not benefitting from the referrals made to the CIP by Sweet Homes”, Hurst said, noting that the principals of Sweet Homes “have been subjected to due diligence inquires and have been deemed appropriate by international clearance bodies”.
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