government has defended its decision to amend legislation allowing for persons who apply for citizenship under the island’s Citizenship by Investment Programme not to have their names made public.

The government, which controls all 15-seats in the Parliament, amended the existing legislation deleting the section which required that the information be included in the bi-annual report of the programme which is presented to Parliament no later than September every year.

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell, speaking to reporters during the just concluded Caribbean Community (CARICOM) inter-sessional summit, said while his administration had not yet granted citizenship to anyone since coming to power in February last year, it was necessary to amend the legislation.