PORT OF SPAIN — Trinidad and Tobago’s Parliament has approved sweeping constitutional reforms that will allow children born abroad to claim citizenship through their grandparents, a move the government says will strengthen ties with the diaspora and boost national development, but which the Opposition has criticized as open to abuse.
The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2025 — widely dubbed the “Grandparents Citizenship Law” — passed in the House of Representatives on September 12 with 27 votes in favor, 10 against, and no abstentions. The bill amends Section 17 (3) of the Constitution, expanding eligibility from parentage alone to include lineage through grandparents, even where parents or grandparents are themselves citizens by descent.
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The legislation also updates the Citizenship Act to allow grandparents and parents to apply for citizenship on behalf of minors and permits children to apply for themselves upon reaching majority.
Sport and Youth Affairs Minister Phillip Watts, who piloted the bill, said the measure would immediately benefit at least 40 athletes identified by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association who have expressed willingness to represent the country if granted citizenship. “This is a rapid response to an urgent need,” he told Parliament, adding that while sports were the initial driver, the reform would ultimately serve broader national goals of economic diversification, diaspora engagement, and cultural enrichment.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar hailed the measure as “a landmark reform” and a legacy achievement of her government. She argued that with roughly 350,000 nationals living abroad — about a quarter of the domestic population — strengthening ties with the diaspora was essential. “The benefits are clear: more skills, more investment, stronger sports teams, increased remittances, and a renewed sense of fairness,” she said. She stressed that strict safeguards, including verified lineage, proper documentation, fraud detection, and consular vetting, would prevent abuse.
Opposition lawmakers, however, voiced strong concerns. Diego Martin Northeast MP Colm Imbert warned that loosening the “bloodline connection” could allow “endless layers of accessibility” to citizenship and questioned whether the change was intended for voter padding or other hidden motives. “Our passport is powerful. Why dilute the safeguards?” he asked, adding that FIFA and other international federations already limit eligibility to parents or grandparents by birth, not descent.
Attorney General John Jeremie countered that the wording “including by descent” was not designed to open citizenship indiscriminately, while Justice Minister Devesh Maharaj dismissed the Opposition’s claims as fearmongering.
Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles also cautioned that the reform could sideline homegrown athletes. “Yes, 40 foreign-born players may be waiting, but what about our local players who train and sacrifice here?” she said. “We must avoid sending a message that talent abroad is valued more than commitment at home.”
Persad-Bissessar rejected those claims, insisting that grassroots development remained a government priority and that the reform would only complement, not replace, local talent. “This is about fairness across generations,” she said. “Becoming a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago should not expire after one generation abroad.”
The bill now positions Trinidad and Tobago among a growing list of countries — including Jamaica, St. Lucia, Ireland, and Israel — that have extended citizenship by descent to third-generation nationals. But unlike larger states, Persad-Bissessar said, Trinidad and Tobago had tailored its law to account for its small population, limited resources, and political sensitivities.
