Dr. Lloyd Barnett
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Constitutional expert Dr. Lloyd Barnett
By Kimone Witter
Constitutional expert Dr. Lloyd Barnett is not in support of Jamaica adopting the Citizenship by Investment Programme which has become popular in parts of the eastern Caribbean.
The CBI programmes offer affluent individuals the opportunity to apply for citizenship through a luxury property investment, government donation and in some jurisdictions, via a business investment.
But Dr. Barnett, who noted that the programme has not taken root in Jamaica, does not support it being introduced here.
"I personally am against this because it is like selling your nationhood, you know? It is making money the criteria for your most valued possession, which is your citizenship, and I don't think because somebody wants to invest, that should be the basis on which they are granted citizenship.
"They might never live in Jamaica. They might never really have any interest in Jamaica but merely to pass funds to Jamaica as a Jamaican citizen. From that point of view it can be dangerous and certainly it is inconsistent with national pride to sell your citizenship," he contended while speaking Sunday on Radio Jamaica's That's a Rap.
Jamaica's Constitution currently provides four paths to citizenship, none of which involves financial considerations.
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