Kemar Stuart, leader of the New National Party, expressed significant reservations about the proposed Barbados Citizenship Bill during a Joint Select Committee hearing on Friday. While acknowledging the necessity of the legislation, Stuart highlighted critical flaws that could lead to potential misuse of power. He emphasized that the bill grants excessive discretionary authority to a single minister, particularly concerning the revocation of citizenship, without adequate checks and balances. Stuart argued that such provisions could open the door to arbitrary or politically motivated actions, drawing parallels to international examples where citizenship revocation has been used discriminatorily. He specifically criticized Clause 9(1)(c), which allows the minister to revoke citizenship based on vague criteria such as “speech or acts” deemed disloyal to Barbados. Stuart called for more precise language and stronger judicial oversight to prevent abuse. In response, committee chair Marsha Caddle clarified that the clause would not apply to citizens by birth, but Stuart insisted that clearer safeguards are needed for all individuals. Additionally, he cautioned against lowering citizenship standards in pursuit of population growth, stressing the importance of protecting the global prestige of Barbados’ passport.
Fledgling NNP backs Citizenship Bill’s intent, warns against ministerial overreach
