ENGLERSTON MP Glenys Hanna Martin. (File photo)
ENGLERSTON MP Glenys Hanna Martin says she will “fight to the death” any attempt by the government to implement a citizenship by investment policy.
Her comment came a day after Immigration Minister Elsworth Johnson told reporters that the government was considering offering citizenship by investment to foreigners.
He said no decision on the matter had been made, however. “Some countries, when we do our comparative analysis, have had a bad experience from it,” Mr Johnson said Tuesday.
“It is something that we are looking at. No decisions have been made and so right now I’m not able to speak directly to it.”
He also said: “But I’ll tell you there are any number of conglomerates or companies in The Bahamas who have been making the approaches to the ministry saying, ‘listen, can we have a discussion on this?’”
The statement elicited a strong reaction from Ms Hanna Martin. “I heard the minister of immigration say on a local news station that the Cabinet has under consideration ‘citizenship by investment’ aka selling Bahamian citizenship,” she posted on Facebook. “Facilitating the purchase of Bahamian passport. This (government) has to be stopped.
“They are ruining our nation and if left to their devices will drag us to a place of no return. I will fight them to the death on this. Citizenship is precious. It is who we are. It is ‘untouchable’.
“They must be voted out of office,” she said. Citizenship-by investment initiatives are aimed at attracting high net worth individuals in developing nations, by giving them a second passport in exchange for investments.
Comments
TalRussell 3 years, 12 months ago
I would encourage Comrade Sister Gleny's, not to jump be outright dismissive when it's the other side steppin' forward be floating various avenues for creating ways to inject new economics into the colony's saggin' economy. Shakehead once for upyeahvote, let's see what you got, twice for not at all interested?
Clamshell 3 years, 12 months ago
But haven’t you heard, Tal? Sistah Glenys and her pals aren’t too fond of people who actually have money. They loves to tax expats, but they not too excited about welcomin’ them into the fold. Their view is, “Just give us yo’ money, shut up and don’t expect nothin’ for it.” SMH
FrustratedBusinessman 3 years, 12 months ago
PLP
P - Poverty L - Loving P - People
mandela 3 years, 12 months ago
Yes, Mrs. Hanna I am with you 100%. We have children born to atleast one Bahamian parent and can't get citizenship and now they want to sell something so precious as citizenship to foreigners, F$$K THAT.
moncurcool 3 years, 12 months ago
Don't forget that she was a part of the party that fought against giving those people the right to pass on citizenship to their children, and did it for political gain.
Islangal1 3 years, 12 months ago
How can they seriously be considering citizenship by investment and citizen by birth? As Mandela say, we have children born to at least one Bahamian parent and they can't get citizenship.
Clamshell 3 years, 12 months ago
Absolutely. Why encourage people to invest here? Why encourage people with money to move here? After all, we can’t solve other citizenship questions, so why should we create new ones? Yes! Let’s tell people with money to invest to go invest it some other place ‘cause we already has administrative problems we can’t solve ‘cause ev’body too busy orderin’ lunch! Bahamas for (burp!) Bahamians!
ThisIsOurs 3 years, 12 months ago
I don't think we should be selling passports either. The first people in line will be Epstein (rip), Kreuger, Nygard and Kaiser
tribanon 3 years, 12 months ago
GEEEeeeezzzzzz!! You would think by now this wretched loud woman would realize she's been a lame-brained dead politician for quite sometime now.
TalRussell 3 years, 12 months ago
Recommend appointing a new substantive crown minister solely charged with responsibility for long-stays A special long-stay category of renters set at a maximum of eight months stay for qualified individuals gainfully employed outside the colony, and with a gross annual income of US$75,400. Shakehead once for upyeahvote, twice for not.
DWW 3 years, 12 months ago
150k
TalRussell 3 years, 12 months ago
My Comrade DWW, this is neither an immigration nor investor project. Rather it must be fully geared towards attracting off the colony employed Renters. Bear in a bind that some 30% of workers who still be returning to a physical location. **It will in fact become a new, profitable, and permanent tourism segment. Although, this separate and totally divorced from immigration and citizenship, certainly some Renters; may want separately and apart to take a look at citizenship.
TalRussell 3 years, 12 months ago
Meant say. Bear in mind the 30% of workers who will not be provided with the option of returning to work out of a physical location.
jamaicaproud 3 years, 12 months ago
Investing and ultimately becoming a. Citizen is different than citizenship by investments. The latter is a method used by criminals and money Launderers to wash stolen gains, and to get easy Visa access to USA and Canada. It is dubious.
C2B 3 years, 12 months ago
The fact is that the people who want Bahamian citizenship are not from G7 Countries. Those people just want permanent residency and a favourable tax environment; in addition to the awesome environment they romanticize. The ones who want Citizenship have other motives; like hiding stolen money (Brazil, Russia, China..) or avoiding violent retribution in their home Nations (Middle East, Eastern Europe). So in my opinion, the only reason to do this is to facilitate Global corruption in exchange for a share of the stolen and laundered money. In my 25 years around the Bahamian expat community, I have never heard a person from a G7 Nation say they wanted to trade Passports.
ted4bz 3 years, 12 months ago
The poor and the rich caters to the rich, not the other way around. In this world money is the undisputed champion above integrity and even god itself, and the rich got it all. Money is the deal of the day, so consider this a done deal, even if it means a backdoor deal.
SP 3 years, 12 months ago
ENGLERSTON MP Glenys Hanna Martin has no issue with Haitians entering the country illegally, avoiding apprehension for decades while dropping anchor babies like roaches, then demanding citizenships!
Only in the Bahamas.
Dawes 3 years, 12 months ago
This is all speculation. Can we be given some idea of what the cost would be and the expected benefits. A quick look online showed that some have citizenship given immediately whilst others say residency and then citizenship after X number of years. I saw an article that St. Lucia gets 25% of its public sector funding from this. Who know most may be OK with this idea if it brings in that much a year (doubt it). No point in complaining until we know the deal. As a note the countries that do this vary from St.Lucia for $100,000 to UK for $2 million plus you have to wait 6 years.
Bahamianbychoice 3 years, 12 months ago
I find the timing of this very odd. I heard that one of the seafood exporters has been bought out by Chinese investors. I hope the Chinese are not looking at entering the fishing industry even more as commercial fishing boats must be 100 percent Bahamian owned. Timing seems bizarre that the Government tabled a bill that is banning present "Bahamian born" owners from hiring expats but now offering citizenship to those who invest. If the Chinese were to enter the commercial fishing industry with fishing boats...it would be game over. They come with economic power that would sink all local fishermen..they just would not be able to compete. Makes me wonder who getting paid off now.....
MCole 3 years, 12 months ago
Ms Hanna - have several seats !!! As a politician representing The Bahamas, U look and sound very ignorant to our very own laws of the Government of The Bahamas. Are U not aware of The Commercial Enterprises Act (“CEA”), came into effect in 2018?. I would suggest U read it and get with the program before you vow to *fight to death anything you are not knowledgeable about. Have several seats Mam.
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