Above: St Lucia

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Could St Lucia become the latest Eastern Caribbean country to establish a citizenship by investment programme?

St Lucia Governor General Dame Pearlette Louisy said in her Throne Speech that the country’s Cabinet is appointing a task force to study the question.

A task force will soon be appointed to review, consult and advise cabinet on the “desirability” of establishing such a programme, Louisy said.

“The time has arrived for us to examine the case for defining and broadening the framework under which citizenship might be offered as part of investing in Saint Lucia; and if we should think that it is a viable option, then under what circumstances we should do so,” Louisy said. “It is my Government’s hope that this matter will be addressed with urgency during the current parliamentary year.”

If St Lucia approves the idea, it join several Caribbean countries that currently offer “economic citizenship,” or citizenship based on different degrees of investment, including St Kitts and Nevis, Dominica and Antigua.

Grenada, too, recently announced it would be offering the same, albeit on a more limited basis.

St Lucia’s tast force will be led by Chairperson Dr Vaughan Lewis.

The task force will submit its report by Dec. 1.