2 weeks ago
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St. Vincent Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has rejected claims by a St. Lucia-based website that 352 foreigners were granted Vincentian citizenship in 2019, describing the site as “probably a fake website” and providing official figures to Parliament.
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The article, which Gonsalves said had also been repeated on a local radio station, alleged that 352 people were awarded citizenship between 2019 and 2024. The Prime Minister, who holds ministerial responsibility for citizenship, told lawmakers over the weekend that he felt compelled to set the record straight.
“I think I owe the House and the country the presentation of some information given what has arisen,” Gonsalves said. “Well, I knew straight away that that couldn’t be true, because I know the numbers; not precisely in every year, but broadly. And any citizenship which has been granted [has] been granted within the terms of those eligible for consideration … upon application for registration as a citizen.”
According to figures provided to him by officials, 74 people were granted citizenship in 2019 — 54 through registration, typically for residents living in the country for more than seven years or holding permanent residence, and 20 through marriage.
In 2020, 65 people were granted citizenship, including 35 by marriage. The numbers dropped to 55 in 2021 and 48 in 2022. In 2023, 63 people became citizens, including two St. Lucians and a Trinidadian who qualified under a law granting citizenship to grandchildren of Vincentians. Seventeen of the 2023 approvals were through marriage, while 15 were “second generations” — foreign nationals with a grandparent born in St. Vincent and the Grenadines — hailing from countries including Britain, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Canada.
Gonsalves also outlined an administrative initiative advising first-generation citizens by descent to obtain a citizenship certificate for official records. “We had introduced administratively a requirement … if you’re a citizen by descent, first generation, we advise you to come and get a citizenship certificate, so you can have something to say that you’re a first generation, not second,” he said, noting that six such certificates were issued last year.
As of 2025, Gonsalves said there have been 12 citizenships granted by marriage, 23 by naturalisation, and seven first-generation certificates issued.
Overall, the Prime Minister confirmed that 403 people have been granted Vincentian citizenship since 2019.
The clarification comes days after Parliament passed a law granting citizenship to the surviving members of the 1975 West Indies cricket team.
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