The opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) is calling on the Gaston Browne led administration “to suspend the approval of any further [CIP] applications, pending the convening and outcomes of a forensic audit – to include the administration and operations of the Programme”.
The call was made yesterday in the wake of the announcement by the Canadian government that it has rescinded the privilege of visa free travel by Antiguans and Barbudans to Canada.
In a written statement circulated to the media, the UPP noted: “Given the action taken by the Government of Canada this morning, June 27, 2017, the United Progressive Party (UPP) is convinced that the Citizenship by Investment Programme, as it is being promoted and managed by the Gaston Browne-led Antigua & Barbuda Labour Party, is no longer viable for Antigua & Barbuda.”
The statement continues: “Accordingly, we call on the Government to suspend the approval of any further applications, pending the convening and outcomes of a forensic audit – to include the administration and operations of the Programme – before it does further and irreparable harm to this country and its people.”
In the statement, the UPP promised that should the party be returned to the reins of government, “it will carry out a referendum on the Citizen by Investment programme and allow the citizenry to determine whether” the programme should be continued.
While stating that “the UPP … is saddened by the loss of our distinct privilege of visa-free access to Canada,” the statement bemoans “the financial hardship the new requirement will impose on those who must now go through the process of application and possible costly travel to Trinidad (airfare, accommodation, transportation) with no guarantee of being granted a visa”.
The UPP statement elaborated that Antiguan and Barbudan students at Canadian universities as well as other nationals, “including our naturalized citizens, do not deserve to be punished in this way by the recklessness of a government elected to serve them”.
(More in today’s Daily Observer)
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