BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, April 6th 2017 – Applications to the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Programme has dwindled to 150 in 2016 compared to nearly 2,000 in 2014, says opposition senator in the National Assembly Hon. Nigel Carty.
He blamed the Timothy Harris-led Team Unity’s onslaught on the programme when in opposition which continues to have a negative impact now that it has formed the government.
Carty, a former Minister of Education, Information and Agriculture said the programme, once rated number one in the world, is now being lauded as number 2 in the Caribbean region by Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and National Security Dr. the Hon, Timothy Harris.
Mr. Carty told listeners to the Issues programme on Freedom 106.5 FM and Kyss 102.5 FM on Wednesday, that records show that nearly 2,000 citizenship applications were received in 2014 compared to close to 150 applications in 2016.
“St. Kitts and Nevis has moved from processing in the region of 2,000 citizenships (by investment applications) per year. My record is showing that for the year 2014, the last year that the (St. Kitts-Nevis) Labour Party was in office, we processed 1,976 citizenship (by investment) applications. We are now hearing, we are now getting information, that for the year 2016, we had a total passport processing quantum of about 100 to 150. We have gone from processing in the region of 2,000 citizenships (by investment applications) in 2014 to processing a maximum of 150 in 2016,” said Sen. Carty, further pointing out that in November 2014, a total of 276 Citizenship by Investment applications were processed.
“The people who are involved in the programme are saying that inasmuch as the programme has died a natural death, has gone up in ashes as a consequence of Team Unity’s mismanagement now in government and the negative rhetoric and falsehoods when it was in opposition in order to become ‘king of the ashes’, the majority of the applications now being presented are from a newly formed company in which family members of the Prime Minister have an interest,” said Sen. Carty.
Prime Minister Harris while in opposition launched a two year onslaught on the Cirizenship by Investment Programme and it is widely believed that what Dr. Harris and his Team Unity have sown in opposition, is what they are now reaping in government.
In December 2013, then Prime Minister Douglas branded Dr. Harris and his Team Unity as “economic terrorists,” because the Citizenship by Investment Programme was “doing exceptionally well globally.”
The St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party has repeatedly accused the Team Unity coalition while in opposition of orchestrating negative feature articles in the local, regional and international media and launching a massive assault during their two year negative pre-election and election campaign aimed at crippling the Citizenship by Investment Programme in their bid to defeat the SKNLP Administration.
Dr. Harris even accused the former government of “selling passports like black pudding on a Friday.”
Dr. Harris also closed down the Citizenship by Investment Unit in St. Kitts, a move which prompted Silver Reef investor Sebastian Mottram to tell WINNFM that the once the leading programme in the world, is now “at the tail end of the market” as competitors Dominica, St. Lucia, Grenada ad Antigua and Barbuda “steal the march and creeping into the market.”
I just don’t get it with some Dominicans. They take what they want from every situation and leave the rest. WHY is Linton critical of the CBI program? Can’t the DLP supporters see beyond the pit toilets and moneys being distributed at the town hall meetings?
Aren’t you guys in the least bit suspicious that at least 6 and counting of individuals holding diplomatic passports have been arrested and some already charged for money laundering and fraud? Why shoot the messenger for bringing these news to light and praise the people who actually engaged with the criminals in the first place?
Are you guys not the least bit curious as to what happened to all the CBI money before the 60 minute program?
Some of you talking about there’s no sustainability in paying salaries with the cbi money…true… but where is the sustainability when it is handed out in town hall meetings like there is no tomorrow?
my friend DOM-IN-CANS can no longer see because its an EVIL block eye one day the good people will wake up from it
well it seems to me linton is doing the same thing here in Dominica just to get in power
These politicians are so foolish with this CBI programme that it doesn’t matter to them that in 5 years they could end up with a population of more than 20% of which are not native islanders.
It’s not the politicians who are stupid. It is the people who are stupid. The politicians are wicked.
No need to say that About ST. KITTS AND NEVIS even if the programs hits rock bottom. Programs like these always hear Rick bottom. The question is. What do you do with the money from this programs incase of rock bttom what we have to show. Unlike Dominica. There is nothing to show. All the time we was hearing this development funded by this entity or this organisation. The moment The opposition start putting pressure in the government about the monies from the this particular program in terms of its where about. Everything is is funded by C.B.I. In Dominica we don’t know what we believe. But one thing I always knew this program is like those offshore companies like call centers. You work for this company. You save as much as you can save and you always be prepared. Because your money or job is not sure. It could be gone at any given time. And I believe the government of Dominica identify that at its early stage and they bleed the program with all this catious we are hearing now.
CBI brought in plenty of smart persons into the Island. It is clear to all that you don’t have a clue about Dominica. We got so much to offer in comparism to St. Kitts & Nevis. In Dominica we got the brain to sustain any challenges with the ever popular Mr. Skerrit. Just relax and enjoy. Any one who run down DA should be deported forever.
It seems Skeritt is right, you cannot make long term promises with this such as contractually increasing civil servant salaries with this money. It’s very vulnerable and may not be there year to year. Don’t u think so?
This is a Press Release but the name of person or organisation issuing that release is missing. DNO, please do not allow the St Kitts Labour Party to use you to push their propaganda in DA. It is only right that Dominicans know where this info is coming from. We are not even sure if the info is accurate.
Anything is “sustainable” if it delivers real value; meaning the price is fair and the benefit (for example, the desirability of permanent residency in Dominica) is worth the price. KaliBud: The “Lesson for all” might be: Things might be bad but they can always get worse. The complaint that Dominica CBI monies are not spent transparently is not as bad for Dominica as if the program were to choke entirely.
Which is precisely what the Government, the Governor of the ECCB and others have been warning. It’s here now and thank God for it but it cannot be assumed that it will be available long term, so cannot be used or relied upon to meet salaries and other recurrent expenditure!
That is true and can also be said about aid funds. The question is what is the government of Dominica doing to increase its revenue base so that it can meet recurrent expenditure? And what will happen to all those young people on the NEP and those in the so called social programs who are being paid from CBI money once that source of funds dries up? Aren’t these not payments which should be met by recurrent expenditure? So don’t be using civil servants as scapegoats.
I have been warning all along. If the figures for St. Kitts and Nevis could have dropped that dramatically, imagine what the numbers are for Dominica. We wouldn’t feel it now, but next year’s budget will be fully impacted.
Nothing crooked, nothing corrupted will ever last forever!
For that sort of thing to last, every day of the year, someone corrupt have to be born, to maintain that sort of thing. Everybody alive do not require both Citizenship to escape from prosecution for crimes they committed in the country of their birth.
An honest persons will follow the rules of countries where citizenship is easily obtained after residing in those countries for a period of five years. New Zealand is one of such places. I found out recently there are lots of Jamaicans in Australia.
Dominica crooked deal will soon collapse, and the entire nation will sink with it. How can a government based its nation economy on the sale of diplomatic passports, is beyond me!
“require both Citizenship to”
That should read “require bought citizenship.”
No, don’t tell me you even read over the stuff u write. Oh..my..God, it’s worse than I thought.
The MAJOR DIFFERENCE there may in Dominica is the LENNOX LINTON WILL NEVER BECOME PRIME MINISTER. PAS LA.
I was advised not to take too serious what this former Minister says. He is well known for his mendacity as he has an adversarial relationship with the truth.
Take note that they also claim that the drop was because of “Team Unity’s mismanagement now in government and the negative rhetoric and falsehoods when it was in opposition in order to become ‘king of the ashes’.” They also branded them as “economic terrorists” who used the local, regional and international media to cripple the program. Sounds familiar?
Sounds familiar.
Oh well
seems to me the Team Unity are doing things the right way. In fact how can one be processing 2000 CBI applications in a year. For such a small nation. Hot bakes allu was selling man?
The song Skerrit and his cabal singing is “If not CBI then what?” The truth is, with the capture of all these crooks and criminals with our passports which so far has gotten local banks as well as their corresponding banks scared of transacting our monies it is clear that CBI will soon die out in Dominica. The good thing is when St. Kitts was selling passports like hot bread the former administration to their credit was investing the money in sustainable projects that are well able to keep them afloat today. However such is NOT the case with Dominica and Roosevelt Skerrit and that’s why when CBI dies according to their song, we will have nothing to turn to since they using CBI money in a very reckless manner and doing nothing sustainable at a time when they killed agriculture, tourism and small business. It’s only then we will see if building toilet too pa too is sustainable.
So, in Dominica the Prime Minister says it’s CBI or what?..any blind can see that selling passports as a main means of income is certain death for any country..Go figure!!..
It is clear that the DPSU General Secretary does not understand that the government’s social programs are policy matters and not legal obligations? While no one opposes improved salaries and conditions of work for government employees, once agreed upon and implemented these salaries and wages become a legal obligation enforceable in a court of law. Thus if the funding which allows for the provision of these social programs were adversely affected, (CIP a la St Kitts), the social programs would be reduced without violating any legal obligation, not so salaries and wages. Do the PS’s and persons comprising the management committees of various ministries and departments understand this or are they in support of the views of Thomas Letang that salaries and wages can be increased based on the present revenue from the CIP?
If the numbers of the Opposition Senator are correct, they underscore that CBI programmes are unsustainable. The drop is very significant. Dominica, be forewarned!
So Smart!!
Yes, be warned as in the opposition want to destroy this programme when ultimately if they do they will be cutting off the country’s economic lifeline. That’s a fact whether you are for or against the programme. They are definitely not unsustainable as proved by many countries in Europe and overseas who have been running them successfully for years. The opposition needs to be very careful what they wish for.
That is why you cannot use CBI money to pay recurrent expenditure like salaries.
That is one of the points that the PM in Dominica has been making all along. This is a very fragile business!
The opposition UWP must know that they are the ones who will pay the high price for the present injustices to our CBI program.
Hmmm. Lesson for all.