Draft legislation would put Samoa citizenship up for sale
Samoa citizenship could soon be up “for sale” for as much as $1,000,000 tala.What’s more, it appears that even this price tag is negotiable.That’s what Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi’s government is proposing through a draft legislation titled “The Citizenship Investment Bill 2014.”Through the bill, a citizen from any country who is willing to invest a million tala in Samoa – after a series of checks outlined in the Bill – could become a citizen three years after.Eventually, he/she can own land.This prospect – including the possibility of bringing in an investor’s spouse, children and immediate relatives - has raised the ire of prominent lawyer, Leota Raymond Schuster.Contacted by the Samoa Observer for his views on the bill, Leota drilled a number of holes in what he called an “extreme” piece of legislation.“It is unfortunate that the government is resorting to this in order to generate income,” he said.“Because that is the only purpose for it, is to generate income for the government.\“It is extreme – we don’t need it so long as government makes sure that its arms are efficient
