The Government has settled on its position on the future of Saint Lucia’s Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) and has written to the European Union, but Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre is not yet prepared to disclose the contents of the correspondence.
Saint Lucia was given until November 12 to communicate its position to the EU, following an extension of the original October 31 deadline.
“We have written a letter to the EU,” Pierre said at Monday’s pre-Cabinet press briefing. “I don’t think we should make a letter to the EU public. These discussions have to be held at the level of confidentiality, diplomacy and trust.”
The EU has been pressing the five Eastern Caribbean countries that operate CIPs – Saint Lucia, St Kitts, Dominica, Grenada and Antigua – to phase them out by June 2028. Its concerns are tied partly to migration and security, with European rules now allowing investor citizenship schemes to be considered when deciding whether to suspend visa-free access to the Schengen area.
Deputy Prime Minister Ernest Hilaire headed an OECS delegation to Brussels in October for discussions. Following those talks, the countries were given until November 12 to decide.
Although the Government has already communicated its decision, Pierre said it would be inappropriate to disclose the contents of the letter before the EU formally receives and acknowledges it.
“When they receive the letter, and they have acknowledged the receipt of that letter, I will come to you or the Deputy Prime Minister will come to you and tell you what was in that letter,” he said.
Pierre acknowledged that the EU has made clear what it wants.
“The EU have said that they would like us to stop these programmes,” he said.
However, he also stressed that the talks are continuing and that Saint Lucia must protect its economic interests.
According to Pierre, Saint Lucia relies less heavily on CIP revenue than some of the other participating countries, but the income remains important to the Government.
“We want the revenue. The revenue supports us, but we depend the least,” he said.
With the November 12 deadline approaching, Pierre urged Saint Lucians to trust that the Government would make its decision in the country’s best interest.
“The Government will always look towards the interests of the people of this country,” he said. “We are always going to do that. And we continue to do that.”
