Editorial | Engaging America

The United States hasn’t publicly provided a detailed account of its reasoning for placing visa restrictions on Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica over the operation of Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programmes.

However, there is a palpable sense that Washington is using the two eastern Caribbean countries to send a message to other regional states with similar schemes – not only about what it expects of them, but the pace with which they react to its concerns.

Put differently, it is another example of the power disparity between the US and the small island and developing of the Caribbean, as well as the readiness of the Trump administration to exercise that power. This dynamic presents real, and serious, challenges for the region, including over the question of sovereignty.

The deeper lesson for the Caribbean from these and other actions by the US government, is not merely to duck below the parapet hoping to go unnoticed, or to attempt to slide by and seek bilateral deals with America. That, in the long run, is unlikely to be a sustainable posture. A better option is to utilise as much as possible the region’s strength in numbers, to engage in respectful dialogue and negotiations with Washington on matters of mutual concern.

If appropriately harnessed, and astutely led, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the 15-member economic and functional cooperation, could prove a credible vehicle for this project.

The Gleaner acknowledges that all countries are entitled to the sanctity of their borders in protection of their national security. In that regard there are circumstances in which states might exclude some migrants, who are perceived to be security threats. This, though, ought not to be merely on the basis of race, creed, xenophobia or jingoistic nationalism.

This week Donald Trump – who has made controlling America’s borders and removing illegal immigrants a critical mission of his administration – expanded his list of countries whose citizens are fully or partially excluded from entering the United States, ostensibly for security reasons. Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica, two members of CARICOM were among them – joining Haiti, a CARICOM partner.

BARRED

As of January 1, citizens of both countries will be barred from obtaining immigrant and non-immigrant visas to enter America, including for holidays, work or study. The restrictions, in the first instance, will be for six months, and will be reviewed every six months to determine compliance with America’s concerns.

According to Mr Trump, the two eastern Caribbean states were placed on his list because they have citizenship by investment schemes that don’t have residency requirements.

Although he did not specifically name Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica as the countries of concern, Mr Trump said that the system “pose(d) challenges for screening and vetting purposes”.

“As an example, a foreign national from a country that is subject to travel restrictions could purchase CBI from a second country that is not subject to travel restrictions, obtain a passport in the citizenship of that second country, and subsequently apply for a United States visa for travel to the United States, thus evading the travel restrictions on his or her first country,” the president said in his order.

The fact, however, is that other Caribbean countries, which aren’t on the travel ban, have similar citizenship by investment regimes. In the event, Gaston Browne, the Antigua and Barbuda prime minister, said the concern raised by America didn’t represent current Antiguan law, after amendments in October.

“Importantly, this legislation introduces a mandatory 30-day physical residency requirement in Antigua and Barbuda as a strict condition for qualification for citizenship,” Prime Minister Browne said.

TIGHTENED

While not introducing residency requirements, Dominica, like Antigua and Barbuda, also this year tightened regulations governing its programme, following complaints from the United States.

Additionally, Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica joined three other members of Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) states (Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia) in an agreement to establish the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (ECCIRA). ECCIRA’s job includes “coordinating and collaborating with national, regional and international authorities, including CARICOM IMPACS (Implementing Agency for Crime and Security), and other competent authorities, for the purpose of enforcing compliance, sharing intelligence and promoting the adoption of best practices, standards and guidelines within the industry”.

The Caribbean isn’t unique in offering foreigners citizenship or residency for their investment.

Indeed, Mr Trump recently unveiled a residency scheme for wealthy people who can put up US$1 million. In America’s US$30 trillion economy, that is less than 0.0000067 per cent of GDP. For Dominica, a person investing $200,000 is contributing 0.0267 per cent of GDP, a comparatively far higher proportion of GDP than the requirement for Mr Trump’s Gold Card scheme.

Looked at in context, it is understandable that these programmes are attractive to small, poor, investment-starved Caribbean countries. But it is also appreciated that these arrangements ought not to be a basis for undermining their own, or anyone else’s, security.

In that context, the region has a stake in proper regulation and functioning of the schemes. The OECS, whose participants are also members of CARICOM, has, in this respect, made a critical advance with the ECCIRA.

Like much else regarding US/Caribbean relations, including Mr Trump’s recently released national security strategy (of which this matter is a subset) CARICOM must take the lead in pushing for mature dialogue with America.