Citizenship should be granted to all across the political divide.
Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas
Government’s policy change on citizenship by marriage is classified as a means to an end by the St. Kitts and Nevis Labour Party.
The Cabinet of the Government of National Unity approved that effective Monday, May 13, 2019, the Ministry of National Security can now process application for citizenship by marriage on requests subject to the relevant legal documentation being provided.
According to Dr. Douglas, under a Labour Administration of which Dr. Timothy Harris was apart, a decision was taken to introduce a three-year policy. The policy arised as a result of various issues.
Douglas said:
Women complained to the Gender Affairs Department that they were being used and abused by foriegn men who pretended to be in love with them and therefore conned them into getting married which in several instances turned out to be marriages of convenience.
It was therefore my Government’s decision to put a 3 year waiting period in place to curb the abuse of our women and provide them with cushion so as to determine if their partner was worthy of becoming a citizen of St.Kitts/Nevis.
Douglas is of the view that the new policy being implemented by the Unity Government is for their own political gain.
They are hoping it would provide them with political advantage particularly in Constituency #1 and #2 respectively where a large presence of Dominican Republic nationals reside.
Douglas reiterated that:
Citizenship by Marriage should be legislatee. It shouldn’t be an arbitrary decision that is led by Political reasons.
If there is change, it should be applied to all persons.
The Harris led Government would also have to address citizenship to children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who are to nationals of St.Kitts/Nevis within the same time frame.
