The UWI Five Islands Public Advocacy Series looks at Citizenship by Investment

The UWI Five Islands Campus, Antigua and Barbuda, Thursday, April 21, 2022. — Following several recent announcements surrounding Citizenship by Investment Programmes (CIP), The University of the West Indies, Five Islands Campus will explore citizenship by investment and investment migration in the next edition of its Public Advocacy Series. The April virtual event, which takes place on Monday April 25, will feature a distinguished panel of experts including Professor Andres Solimano and Mr. Bruno of The Investment Migration Council (IMC) as well as Chief Executive Officer of the Citizenship by Investment Unit, Antigua and Barbuda, Mrs. Charmaine Quinland-Donovan.

Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal of The UWI Five Islands Campus, Professor Densil A. Williams explained that this topic is one of importance not only to Antigua and Barbuda but several Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) countries. “This iteration of the Public Advocacy Series looking at the critical and important topic of Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) and Residence by Investment Programme (RIP) is timely, as the global debate rages on the future of these programmes. A panel of the world’s leading experts will join us at the FIC to bring textured research and analyses to bear on the discourse around the subject.” he stated. The Principal also noted that it is expected to be a rich discussion, filled with empirical evidence to assist policymakers in focusing their debate on the future of these programmes in the OECS region, which uses them heavily to provide fiscal support and also, economic transformational opportunities for the countries involved.

Citizenship by Investment Programmes (CIP) have been in the news recently following several pronouncements by the European Parliament. The pronouncements, which were perceived as an ultimatum to end the programmes, could see countries with CIP programmes losing visa free access to the European Union. Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Honourable Gaston Browne has renewed calls for his sub regional counterparts from countries in the (OECS) to issue a joint response to the European Union (EU), following the recent pronouncements as the programmes were vital to their economies.

The April 25 virtual event, themed, “Citizenship by Investment: How Investment Migration helps develop our region and world” begins at 6:30 p.m. (Eastern Caribbean time). Principal of The UWI Five Islands Campus, Professor Densil A. Williams will deliver the opening remarks. Following their presentations, participants will be able to pose questions directly the panel during the discussion segment. Persons can register online at the Campus’ website: https://fiveislands.uwi.edu/publicadvocacyseries/.