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Atherley questions ‘hasty’ move

by Randy Bennett
2 min read
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Opposition Leader Bishop Joseph Atherley today expressed concern that the Barbados Welcome Stamp could be used to allow persons opportunities to become citizens of Barbados.

In admitting that he was uncomfortable with “the haste” in which the Remote Employment Bill was being fast-tracked during debate in Parliament today, Atherley questioned whether there was an alternative reason behind the initiative.

He queried whether it was being used as a “cover” for persons already working in Barbados.

“I need to ask the Minister of Home Affairs, I believe he will speak in this debate, as to whether or not what gives rise to the haste in this matter today has anything to do with the fact that there are already persons here living and working under these conditions in the absence of the legislative basis that would allow for that.

“Is there anybody, or are there any persons here already known to the Government, known to the minister, living and working under these conditions in the absence of the legislation having been framed and passed in this house? Are we trying after the fact to catch up with the incidence of what’s going on around us with respect to this?” Atherley questioned.

“There are some who believe that Government wants to embark upon a path where down the road we see this type of initiative evolve into something else as practiced in other parts of the Caribbean, where people find non-traditional ways of becoming citizens of these countries. There are some who believe that this initiative is a first step in that direction towards introducing something called citizenship by purchase, citizenship by investment.”

While the Opposition Leader admitted there were some positive spin offs from the Welcome Stamp, he advised Government to implement the initiative carefully.

He called for more stringent requirements to be applied to interested persons and also warned about the possibility of persons involved in whitecollar crime and other types of illegal activity including terrorism and money laundering, taking advantage of the offer.

“If we cannot deal with whitecollar crime in Barbados effectively I do not know how you are going to deal with whitecollar crime that is imported, no matter how warmly welcomed. We live in a day of transnational organized crime…We live in a region where some of our jurisdictions are known already to have been exposed to terrorist presence,” Atherley said.

“I am not saying that the Government should not have this Welcome Stamp programme, I am saying that if you are going to do it, do it with full thought, do it carefully and you are careful not to be overly hasty in seeking to do what you purpose to achieve.”

Atherley also called on telecommunication companies to improve their services, since they would be tested once visitors arrived on the island to take part in the Welcome Stamp.

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