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Police launch probe into sale of passports

Published:Wednesday | December 11, 2019 | 12:00 AM

ST GEORGE’S (CMC):

Police have launched an investigation into the “unsubstantiated and slanderous” rumours that the island’s regular passports are being sold without the consent of the proper authorities.

“I heard of that rumour being perpetuated, and as it relates to passports, what I say is that the Office of the Immigration Department is responsible for the distribution of passports, and an unsubstantiated and slanderous remark like that can be very detrimental not just to the force but to the country,” Acting Police Commissioner Edvin Martin told reporters.

Martin said that as far as he is concerned, the issuance of passports is well regulated and that “if anyone has information to that effect, I will really encourage the person to come forward with it so we can look into it”.

He told reporters at the weekly post-Cabinet briefing that at the moment, the allegations were “unsubstantiated”, adding, “I do not have any information to suggest that that is something that is occurring.”

Grenada is among several Caribbean islands that promote the Citizenship by Investment Programme, through which foreign investors who make a substantial financial contribution to the socio-economic development of the countries are granted citizenship.