Saint Lucia’s CIP Mismanagement puts citizens Travel to the United States at Risk

The Government of Saint Lucia’s reckless mismanagement of the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) has now placed the entire nation in jeopardy. Reports indicate that the United States is considering imposing travel restrictions on Saint Lucians due to concerns about the integrity of the program. This is not just an administrative failure, it is a national crisis that threatens our people’s ability to travel, do business, and maintain our country’s global reputation.

For the last 4 years, the current administration has treated the CIP like a quick cash grab rather than a serious, strategic program designed to attract high quality investment. Saint Lucia has gone in the concerning direction, lowering due diligence standards, prioritizing short-term revenue over long-term credibility and failing to ensure proper oversight. Now, the consequences of this recklessness are coming home to roost. Between 2016-2021, the UWP issued approximately 850 citizenships via the Citizenship by Investment Programme. Under the Philip J Pierre led administration, Saint Lucia has sold over 10,000 citizenships in the last 4 years! This staggering increase in citizenships has obviously been flagged as a major concern to the United States Government.

The possibility of travel restrictions from the US, a key partner and ally would be devastating. It would impact Saint Lucians who depend on visa-free access for business, healthcare, education, family visits and tourism-related opportunities. It would hurt our economy by diminishing investor confidence, further weakening an already struggling economy. And most importantly, it would be an embarrassment for an island that has always prided itself on its strong international standing.

The government must be held accountable for this gross negligence. They must immediately address the glaring weaknesses in the program and take decisive action to restore Saint Lucia’s credibility on the global stage. The people of Saint Lucia deserve a government that prioritizes their interests, not one that recklessly endangers their freedom and economic future.