The Democratic Labour Party has urged Parliament to proceed carefully with proposed changes to citizenship laws after a report revealed that Barbadian citizenship is being marketed overseas to wealthy clients through “birth-tourism” arrangements.

DLP shadow minister of legal and home affairs and attorney general, Corey Greenidge, said the recent report carried in another section of the press showed why Parliament must proceed cautiously as it considers the Citizenship Bill and Immigration Bill.

He said: “If organised entities are already actively marketing access to Barbadian citizenship abroad and using the strength of the Barbados passport as a selling point, Parliament must carefully consider whether additional accelerated pathways to citizenship are necessary, what safeguards should accompany such reforms and what cumulative impact they may have over time.”