Earlier this year Saint Lucia became the fifth Caribbean island to launch a Citizenship by Investment Programme (C.I.P.) alongside Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada and St. Kitts and Nevis. January 1st, 2016 marked the commencement date for application submissions. Five months later developers of a luxurious hotel beach resort and spa at Sabwisha, Choiseul, the GP Group (Saint Lucia) Ltd., have been granted Approved Estate Project status under C.I.P. The announcement was made on May 12th, 2016 by the C.I.P. office .
The resort development project is valued at US $220 million and is backed by international investors. As part of the construction plans for what is described as an eco-friendly and environmentally conscious 120-room luxury hotel with 40 ocean view villas, a bio garden, a spa centre, restaurants and a sports and recreation centre will be built. According to GP Group executives, the developers expect to employ approximately 300 persons, not only from within the Choiseul community but also from neighbouring towns post-construction, as well as some 200 workers during the construction phase.
The GP Group, founded in 2004, has gained recognition for luxurious resorts, sports facilities, residential complexes, gas stations and other specialized projects. Following final negotiations, an announcement is set to be made of the international brand affiliated with the resort.
Saint Lucia’s Citizenship by Investment Programme allows applicants to include dependents such as children below the age of twenty-five years and dependent parents above 65 residing with the applicant, and is non-discriminatory with regard to physically or mentally challenged dependents. The CI.P. application process requires no physical residence of applicants and no obligation to travel to the island during the application process.
