Vanuatu Government Affirms Constitutional Rights Of Its Citizens Through All Citizenship Programs
/Recently, various reports appeared in the press, according to which it was stated that those naturalized under the Vanuatu Development Support Program would not be able to further participate in the country's political life. In addition, according to the statement from these media outlets, the color of the passport of those who received citizenship by investment will differ from those who received citizenship at birth. Both of these statements are wrong.
The Vanuatu Trade Office in the UAE has maintained an open line over the past few days to explain how things really are.
His Excellency, Ronald Warsal, the Chairman of Vanuatu’s Citizenship Commission, issued a press statement to raise this issue and to clarify any ambiguities regarding the protection of the civil rights of all Vanuatu citizens.
“The only authorised channel to suggest, create, and communicate program modifications is the Vanuatu Citizenship Commission. All other statements or comments regarding the programs or citizenship program augmentations should be treated as unofficial or personal remarks and not government policy,” Ronald Warsal said in a statement.
The Vanuatu government is currently reviewing its program to make it even more attractive to investors.
“The government is currently conducting a thorough review of the DSP and VCP and is committed to ensuring that the program evolves in a measured, regulated way. The Citizenship Commission is in active discussion with both domestically and internationally based parties with the aim of improving and securing the framework of the DSP and VSP to both address domestic concerns and meet international obligations,” Warsal said.
"We are witnessing positive changes being introduced to the Vanuatu citizenship by investment programmes. This has added to the credibility of those programmes and led to more high net worth individuals being attracted to them. Vanuatu citizens residing in the UAE or any other territory within the Middle East should be assured that all their civil rights are protected under the provisions of the Vanuatu constitution as full citizens, and we are honoured to have the opportunity to serve them in all consulate services they require from the Vanuatu Trade Mission to the UAE,” commented Mimoun A. Assraoui, Chairman of the Vanuatu Trade Mission to the UAE.
All Vanuatu citizens are equal in the eyes of the Vanuatu government.
“Finally, all Vanuatu citizens who have achieved citizenship under any of the existing or former versions of the citizenship by investment program are equal in the eyes of the Vanuatu government and are to be assured of their rights and privileges as ni-Vanuatu, enshrined under the existing Citizenship Act Cap 112.” - concluded Warsal.
