Investment opens door to residency, not citizenship, Nicholls tells MPs

I nvestors in approved national development projects could qualify for permanent residency under a revised Immigration Bill introduced to the House of Assembly on Tuesday, but Home Affairs Minister Gregory Nicholls insisted they would not be able to buy Barbadian citizenship or passports. Nicholls told lawmakers that Barbadian citizenship was not for sale. Outlining several provisions, including a modernised immigration department, tougher safeguards for work permits and stronger penalties for people who abuse the immigration system, Nicholls said the bill would allow people making substantial investments in approved national development projects to become permanent residents. He explained that this was different from citizenship. He stressed that no amount of investment under the proposed legislation would allow someone to buy Barbadian citizenship or a passport.

He said: “This bill does not create the sale of citizenship. This bill does not sell passports. This bill does not create Barbadian nationality. Barbadian citizenship remains governed by the Constitution of Barbados and the Barbados Citizenship Act, Cap 26 of the Laws of Barbados. “We are not selling citizenship. We are not creating a backdoor for it, and we are not selling passports or creating a backdoor for them either. This bill deals only with residents. “What the bill does create is an opportunity for individuals who make substantial investments in approved national development projects to become permanent residents. ” He insisted that protecting Barbadian workers was a major part of the proposed legislation: “This government rejects the false choice between economic openness and labour protection, and we believe that we can achieve both. ” He added that the legislation would also change how applications…