There are seven members of the Commission. According to section 4 (3) of the Act, members of the Integrity Commission shall be persons of high integrity, capable of exercising competence, diligence, sound judgment, confidentiality and impartiality in fulfilling his or her duties pursuant to the provisions of the Act.
Citizens in Defence of Grenada’s Lands and Heritage is indeed indebted to The New Today for breaking the startling news of a recent judgment against H.E. Amb. Peter DeSavary, one of the two agents appointed by the New National Party Government in respect of the re-launched Citizenship by Investment Programme. Citizens has not forgotten that DeSavary was made an Investment Ambassador by the Tillman Thomas government in 2012, ignoring the advice coming from several quarters and against the recommendations of the famous Cheltenham Report.
Recently, Minister Steele, there has been some profoundly disturbing even alarming developments in respect of the business of Grenada PLC and the Citizenship by Investment Programme.
Will the National Transformation Fund become a sort of piggy bank? The questions are: – whose piggy bank? who effectively controls the functioning of the NTF? what are the checks and balances which will prevent abuse and ensure that funds obtained by the sale of the citizenship is properly managed and used in the interest of the citizens of Grenada who have been called upon to make sacrifices to get Grenada out of its “debt hole”.
What is the return to Grenada and to Grenadians on this sale of their birthright and national asset, citizenship?
The Citizenship by Investment Bill 2013, had its first reading in the Lower House of Representatives and not surprisingly it went through without challenge. The Government side controls all 15 seats in the Lower House. But, it must be noted that Hon. Tobias Clement raised some pertinent questions in respect of this scheme. He was concerned about the impact of this programme on land prices and the future ability of locals to purchase land.
Citizenship by Investment Bill, 2013: Provisions for persons to acquire residence in and citizenship of Grenada by registration following investment in Grenada and for incidental and connected purposes……..
Citizens in Defence of Grenada’s Lands and Heritage does not support the selling of our country’s citizenship. The CBI as espoused by Ambassador DeSavary is undoubtedly beneficial to his interests and will be, undoubtedly, a “cash cow” to the Mt. Cinnamon Resort and Private Beach Club. However, the long term benefits to the bona fide Grenadian citizen are very unclear. It is the considered opinion of the Citizens grouping that the Citizenship by Investment programme cheapens the country’s citizenship and puts at risk the credibility and image of the country as happened under the previous ill-fated economic citizenship programme.
