by Linda Straker
- Cabinet approved 3,034 new citizens between January and June 2024
- Approved applicants from China (22%) and Nigeria (23%) for first quarter of 2024
- As of July 2024, Ministry of Finance and IMA websites provide breakdown of IMA programme
Since the change of government in June 2022, over 8,000 people have been granted Grenadian citizenship by Cabinet. Government’s revenue for the same period, according to a review of fiscal reports from July 2022 to June 2024, totalled EC$753.4 million.
Data from the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CBI), recently rebranded as the Investment Migration Agency (IMA), show that from January to June 2024, the Cabinet approved 3,034 people. From January to December 2023, the number was 4,764, with 714 from July to December 2022. The total for the 24-month period was 8,512.
The CBI programme began in 2014 under the former New National Party administration, and until June 2022, the government approved 7,472 new citizens. This year marks the programme’s 10th anniversary, and a review of Ministry of Finance data and the IMA website shows that the total number of citizens approved through the programme is 15,984. The Cabinet of Ministers has the final say in granting or rejecting new citizens under the CBI/IMA programme.
As of July 2024, both the Ministry of Finance and the IMA website provided a breakdown of the programme. While the Ministry of Finance data focused on the revenue earned, the IMA website provided details on the number of new citizens and the geographic locations of applicants.
China and Nigeria, according to the IMA breakdown, are locations for the highest number of approved new citizens. Both jurisdictions are continuously responsible for almost 50% of approved applicants, while there is a fluctuating about from several other places, including the USA, India, Lebanon, Ukraine, South Africa, Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, France, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Algeria, Great Britain, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Turkey, Argentina and Hong Kong. The percentage of applicants from these places runs between 9% and 1%.
China and Nigeria represented 22% and 23% of the approved applicants from the territories in the first quarter of 2024, respectively, while the approved applicants from the territories represented 28% and 21% in the second quarter, respectively. During the first quarter, or from January to March 2024, the USA represented 11% of the approved applicants, but for the second quarter, or from April to June, the USA represented 7% of the approved applicants.
In the first quarter, Lebanon represented 9% of the approved applicants, while only 5% of the approved applicants in the second quarter were from Lebanon. During the period under review, Cabinet rejected or denied 36 applicants. There is no breakdown as to which territories the denied applicants represented.
I hope Grenadians are having children, if this plan continues , the population will change drastically – There needs to be a limit to this. Greed seems to be the non -limiting factor currently.
Are these new citizens, who are exempt from all taxes and social contributions vote? Is it now possible that these new “citizens” could swing an election?
Thats how it usually starts – worrisome to see that the government seems to be blinded by the monies
The beginning of Gentrification in Grenada. I thought that the new Government was different.
Different leaders, same playbook. Soon we Grenadian passport holders are going to need Visas for every country in the world. The security apparatus is not equipped to handle international crime, they can’t even handle two little misfits on the carenage. People please let your voices be heard, it’s time to protest against this.
The population replacement program is in full swing
I support the program but the volume is concerning. Some temperance may be required.