After Gonsalves denies 352 citizenship grants, scrutiny shifts to legal loopholes
KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent and the Grenadines — Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has publicly denied claims that his administration granted 352 foreign citizenships in 2019, issuing a rebuttal days after Unitedpac St Lucia News published a report raising alarms about a potential backdoor citizenship scheme. His response was carried by St Vincent Times, which served as the official platform for the prime minister’s statement.
In his remarks, Gonsalves described the report as “potentially fake” and claimed only 74 individuals were granted Vincentian citizenship that year, 54 through naturalization after residing in the country for at least seven years, and 20 through marriage. The prime minister did not provide documentary evidence, and the government has yet to release names or details about the recipients.
According to the figures published in St Vincent Times, Gonsalves also stated that from 2019 to mid-2025, just over 400 people received citizenship. These include 65 in 2020, 55 in 2021, 48 in 2022, 63 in 2023, 63 in 2024, and 35 so far in 2025.
St Vincent Times, which reported the prime minister’s rebuttal in full, did not offer editorial analysis or take a position on the citizenship figures. The outlet relayed the official data provided by the Office of the Prime Minister, though no supporting documentation was published.
Unitedpac investigation prompts official reaction
The rebuttal followed Unitedpac St Lucia News’ publication of “Gonsalves Passport Hypocrisy: 352 Citizenship Grants Spark Secrecy Concerns”, which detailed concerns over the lack of transparency in the Vincentian citizenship approval process. The report questioned whether political favors, undeclared contributions, or other undisclosed arrangements were involved.
While Gonsalves dismissed the reported number, he did not dispute the discretionary powers his office holds under Section 18 of the Citizenship Act, nor did he define what constitutes a “substantial contribution,” the legal basis under which such citizenships can be granted without public disclosure or parliamentary oversight.
Secrecy fuels calls for reform
The prime minister’s assertion that St Vincent and the Grenadines does not run a formal citizenship-by-investment (CBI) program is consistent with his public stance. Gonsalves has long criticized CBI schemes in the Caribbean, calling them unethical and dangerous. But critics argue that the current citizenship process, though not marketed or commercialized like CBI programs, still suffers from the same lack of transparency.
Legal experts and political analysts say the Citizenship Act gives the prime minister unchecked power, and without proper safeguards or public reporting, the system remains vulnerable to misuse. The controversy has also resurfaced debate over the case of David Ames, a British businessman convicted of fraud who received Vincentian citizenship before his sentencing, raising further questions about the government’s vetting process.
Opposition voices demand accountability
With elections approaching, opposition figures have called for legislative reform and full disclosure of citizenship records. Civil society groups have echoed those calls, urging a clearer legal definition of “substantial contribution,” an independent approval body, and mandatory publication of all citizenship grants.
In its coverage, St Vincent Times presented the prime minister’s rebuttal as a factual update but did not address the broader public demand for transparency or respond to the deeper concerns raised in Unitedpac’s investigation. The lack of accompanying evidence in the government’s response has left many observers unconvinced.
Core questions remain unanswered
Despite Gonsalves’s denial of the 352-citizenship figure, key questions remain: Who received Vincentian passports in 2019? What were the criteria used to approve them? What form, if any, did the “substantial contributions” take? And why has the government refused to make these details public?
Unitedpac St Lucia News stands firmly by its reporting and renews its call for the Office of the Prime Minister to publish a complete list of recipients and supporting documentation to clarify the true scope of citizenship approvals.
As global scrutiny of Caribbean passports intensifies, the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines deserve a transparent and accountable citizenship process, not blanket denials.
Stay with Unitedpac St Lucia News for continuing coverage of this developing story and other major political issues across the Caribbean.
