WE EXAMINE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF DOMINICA'S CONTROVERSIAL CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT PROGRAM

Whether you are in favor of its continuation, or believe the Economic Passport, a/k/a Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program of the Commonwealth of Dominica should be ended, you have to admit that there have been a large number of major projects for the people which the program has achieved, which raises the question of whether the EU order, to close it by June 2028, is not in the best interests of the country. Longtime readers of my blog know that I have raised a number of issues that I believe need to be dealt with, but an analysis of the achievements to date raises the question: is it more important to continue the good works of the CBI program, and possibly clean up the deficiencies, rather than kill it altogether? 

My responsibilities to fair and balanced reporting tell me to analyze this issue, as it has been brought up by many far wiser than yours truly. It is a complex question, which I certainly cannot answer in a single article,  but let's at least start the analysis here, and continue it, as the intended beneficiaries of the CBI program, the people of Dominica, deserve a thorough examination, before reaching a conclusion that serves all parties concerned.

Le's take a quick look what the Dominica CBI program has achieved; this is by no means a complete list, but does constitute the major projects that I am aware of. There are several others, but this will givew the reader some idea of what the CBI funding has spawned:

(1) The state-of-the art MARIGOT HOSPITAL, a seventy five bed, 40,000 square feet facility.

(2) The construction of a dozen local health centers throughout the country.

(3) The program which built a number of hurricane-resistant single family residences for Dominican who had lost their homes in the country's multiple storms.

(4) The replacement of the Mahaut Primary School.

(5) The upgrade of the Dominica Grammar School.

(6) The construction of the country's first truly international airport. The lack of such a facility has historically been an impediment to the full development of the country's tourism sector, its most lucrative industry.

(7) The Dominica Cable Car Project; this will allow tourists to access  the Boiling Lake attraction.

(8) The repair of damaged transportation network, including bridges and major roads.

(9) Funding for the geothermal energy plant, the first in the region.  

There's a lot more, but you get the idea. I will be covering some of the others in a future article; the point is, do the good works the funding brings in need to continue and could reform of the deficiencies be achieved, to the satisfaction of the European union, to justify its continued existence? We will be further examining that specific issue in our next article.