Minister for Tourism, Investment, and Creative Industries, Dr. Ernest Hilaire, recently took definitive action to address public concerns about the potential loss of visa-free access to the European Union for Saint Lucians.
In response to inquiries from the Opposition regarding the risk of losing visa-free access status, Minister Hilaire firmly stated that the government is actively involved in dialogue with the EU regarding these matters.
“The EU has established a regime where countries with visa-free access must maintain certain standards. If citizens from these countries engage in activities detrimental to the EU’s interests, they face the risk of losing this privilege,” he asserted.
He clarified, “The EU will first communicate with a country to outline the issue. If the country fails to respond adequately, they are allowed a specified timeframe to rectify the situation; otherwise, they risk losing visa-free access.”
The Minister emphasized that the existence of Citizenship by Investment Programs (CIPs) can significantly impact visa-free access.
“The EU is fully aware of the potential for individuals with CIP citizenships to travel to the EU and seek asylum under the guise of visa-free access,” he stated.
In light of these circumstances, Dr. Hilaire articulated, “The EU is implementing measures to monitor and alert countries if there is a rise in such incidents. If no action is taken by the country, the EU is prepared to revoke visa-free access. Therefore, the inclusion of CIPs on the watchlist underscores the EU’s commitment to maintaining stringent controls.”
He confidently reassured that there are currently no indications from the European Union that would warrant any action against Saint Lucia’s visa-free access status.
Minister Hilaire concluded by reinforcing that Saint Lucia’s CIP programme is rigorous, continually meets all due diligence requirements, and stands robust against scrutiny.