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Minister of Home Affairs, Edmund Hinkson addressing the Induction ceremony for new Barbadian citizens at National Union of Public Workers’ Headquarters, Dalkeith Road yesterday.

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The newest sworn in citizens of Barbados and their families during yesterday’s Induction Ceremony.

New Policies on the horizon

The Government of Barbados has begun the process of completing a comprehensive review of its existing immigration policies, as the country seeks to promote growth and trade amongst its neighbouring CARICOM countries, and partners around the globe.

This assurance came from Minister of Home Affairs, Edmund Hinkson, as he addressed the Induction ceremony for new Barbadian citizens at National Union of Public Workers’ Headquarters, Dalkeith Road.

Minister Hinkson, who congratulated Barbados’ new citizens on making their big step, said it was imperative for the Government to review the current policies governing immigration, to make sure they are not only fair for potential immigrants, but also abide by all existing laws.

“A new immigration bill which we aim to present to the cabinet in January [2020], and there after parliament, once approved, will expand on all categories of citizenship and permanent residence, and rectify some of the existing inconsistencies between our legislation, our constitution, and our citizenship act related to this concept,” he revealed.
If this proposal is passed into law, future immigrants to Barbados will have an easier time not only applying for citizenship, but their family will in turn receive the same ability to begin the process towards permanent residence.

“So therefore, we will expand citizenship down to grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In other words, if you are a grandchild or great-grandchild of a Barbadian citizen, you will be entitled to Barbadian citizenship,” Hinkson added.

The problem of CARICOM skilled nationals having difficulty applying for citizenship in previous immigration policies has always been an issue Hinkson from the time he took up the post as Minister of Home Affairs. With this new bill soon going before parliament, Hinkson has promised that these inconsistencies experienced by these persons, will soon be a thing of the past.

“An issue has always come up that CARICOM skilled nationals could not gain citizenship of Barbados as a right. It was left up to the discretion of the Minister of Immigration. We are proposing, that as a right, CARICOM skilled nations, their spouses and dependents, are entitled to become permanent residents and then citizens through qualifying by way of time being spent in Barbados. Those who have currently been residing in Barbados for more than seven years, would be eligible to be grandfathered in to citizen on their application.”

With the current life expectancy of adult males in Barbados being 79 years, while women are at 83 years, Barbados’ outlook on growth will not increase substantially unless the island has an increase in diverse immigrants, along with more young people, to help support the influx of revenue to support social services, according to Minister Hinkson.

“There are not enough young people in the productive ages, in Barbados right now to sustain the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) that we have grown in this country over the last 50 years. We can only continue to care, and to provide for our older people, who have built a platform for us younger persons, if we have proper national security on pensions.”

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