Caribbean Times 100th Issue - Friday 17th February 2017

Friday 17th February 2017 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g 9
cont’d from pg 8
management of files, allow
for more readily available
statistics and ensure better
management of statistics
through a more effective
accounting software. Additionally,
it will facilitate
authorized secure remote
access to applications.
“Files are normally processed
within an already
efficient 60 to 90 days,”
Chekwe says. “These new
improvements will make an
even faster turnaround time
possible.”
In recent months, other
jurisdictions have made
amendments to their investment
options by lowering
their investment threshold
or extending or lowering
the ages of dependents. One
jurisdiction has chopped
its National Development
Fund contribution by half.
The Antigua and Barbuda
Citizenship by Investment
(CIP) Act was passed
in April, 2013. The Citizenship
by Investment Unit
(CIU), a creature of the legislation,
was staffed on August
26, 2013 and opened to
the public on October 10,
2013. The first application
was received in November
2013. The first citizenship
was granted in February of
2014.
Managed by a dedicated
team of professionals,
the CIU is the authority responsible
for processing all
applications submitted for
Citizenship by Investment,
issuing all Agent Licenses,
as well as approving Authorized
Representatives,
Projects and Business Investments.
The ultimate responsibility
of the Program
rests with the Office of the
Prime Minister.
Holders of the Antigua
and Barbuda passport enjoy
visa free travel to 134 countries,
including the U.K.,
Canada and the countries of
the Schengen area.
The Unit is proud to
be a Corporate Member
of the Investment Migration
Council (IMC), the
worldwide association for
the Investor Migration and
Citizenship-by-Investment
industry. The IMC sets the
standards acting as a regulator
on a global level and
interacts with other professional
associations, governments
and international
organizations in relation to
investment migration.