Mounting backlash as Gonsalves passport hypocrisy fuels citizenship scandal
KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent and the Grenadines — Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, long known for his vocal condemnation of Caribbean citizenship-by-investment (CBI) programs, is now facing growing scrutiny after official figures revealed that 352 foreign nationals were quietly granted Vincentian citizenship in 2019 under his direct authority and without parliamentary oversight.
The 2019–2024 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure confirm that the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) issued the passports under the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Citizenship Act (SVGCA). In the same year, the OPM approved 1,941 Residency Certificates, 1,377 Work Permits, and 143 Alien Land-Holding Licences. These figures exclude prior years between 2001 and 2018, during which similar approvals were made.
Gonsalves’ sweeping powers questioned
The SVGCA grants the Prime Minister sole authority to confer citizenship upon foreigners who are said to have made a “substantial contribution” to the economic or cultural development of the country. Section 18 of the Citizenship Act states that these decisions “are not subject to appeal or legal challenge” and “need not be accompanied by reasons.”
This means Gonsalves alone determines:
- Whether an applicant is of “good character”
- Whether they speak English
- And what qualifies as a contribution to the country’s development
Critics argue that this level of discretion enables opaque and unaccountable decision-making, especially with no statutory requirement to publish names, contributions, or supporting documentation.
Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves’ 2002 quote resurfaces
In a 2002 statement that has resurfaced amid the latest citizenship revelations, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves bluntly admitted, “If I am paid WITH CASH and spend it on my country, then he will get a passport.”
The remark, made in the early years of his administration, is now being interpreted as a tacit endorsement of direct transactional citizenship, despite his frequent denials of involvement in passport-for-money schemes. Critics argue the quote dismantles two decades of political posturing and reveals a philosophy indistinguishable from the very CBI programs Gonsalves has publicly condemned.
David Ames and the case for due diligence
The controversy has intensified with the case of David Ames, a British businessman convicted of defrauding over 8,000 investors in a massive Caribbean real estate scam. Ames was granted Vincentian citizenship under Gonsalves’ administration before being sentenced to 12 years in a UK prison in 2022.
According to Caribbean Today, Ames’ Vincentian citizenship was later revoked. The case has raised serious concerns about the vetting process and whether meaningful due diligence was ever conducted.
“How does a convicted fraudster pass a ‘good character’ test?” critics ask.
What exactly is a ‘substantial contribution’?
Despite the Prime Minister’s claims that these citizenships were granted to individuals who benefited the country, the SVGCA provides no legal definition or standard for what constitutes a substantial contribution.
Critics now want answers:
- Were these direct financial payments, business investments, or political favors?
- Were any linked to development projects, real estate schemes, or offshore interests?
- What obligations, if any, do recipients have to SVG after gaining citizenship?
The lack of public disclosure has raised concerns about whether citizenship is being quietly sold without the accountability imposed by formal CBI frameworks.
A growing credibility crisis
For years, Gonsalves has positioned himself as morally superior to regional leaders who adopted structured CBI frameworks. But critics now argue that his government has operated its own version of CBI program in the shadows, without oversight, public records, or legislative debate.
“This is hypocrisy of the highest order,” said a former public officer, writing in The News. “You can’t condemn CBI while personally signing off on 352 citizenships with no transparency.”
The quote, the figures, and the lack of disclosure all point to what many now believe is an orchestrated policy of quiet passport sales masked as discretionary diplomacy.
The calls for reform
Opposition leaders, former civil servants, and public watchdogs are calling for a comprehensive review of the SVGCA. They argue that unchecked power in the hands of one man for two decades has created a system ripe for abuse.
“Gonsalves cannot continue to claim SVG is not for sale when his government has issued hundreds of passports without explanation,” one former diplomat warned.
The Vincentian public remains in the dark about who received these passports, what they paid or pledged, and whether their presence has tangibly benefited the country.
As pressure mounts, the Prime Minister has remained silent, refusing to release any records or comment further on the growing controversy.
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