US firm defends Citizenship by Investment Programme

A New York-based financial advisory firm specialising in investment consulting and wealth management has defended the Citizenship by Investment Programmes (CIP) being undertaken by several Caribbean countries.

Reacting to the “Passports for Sale” programme aired on CBS flagship programme “60 Minutes” last weekend, Apex Capital Partners Corp, said, “while 60 Minutes certainly featured concerns expressed over the years, most of the countries and services providers participating in these Citizenship by Investment Programmes are doing so via a successful process that supports domestic growth as well as the individual citizen.

“Our team witnesses it first-hand the extensive due diligence process, which involves background checks and interviews, while also conducting information exchanges within the international community, including numerous foreign governments,” said Nuri Katz, founder and president of Apex Capital Partners Corp.

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60 Comments

  1. This guy (firm) or wherever he hales from should have nothing to say about the islands in the Caribbean, and Dominica in particular. If he needs to voice his opinions, perhaps he should focus on the fact that the United States of America gives very little to the islands of the Caribbean.

    What they give to the islands of the Caribbean are less than peanuts change in comparisons to the billions of dollars given to countries, such a Pakistan and such nations, which are practically fully developed. Maybe if Dominica in particular got some suppervised help from the United States in regards to a billion dollar grant, perhaps Skerrit would not indulge in the corrupted sale of passports!

    And when the author talked about background check, that guy does not know what the hell he is talking about, considering that we know of one criminal to whom an diplomatic passport was issued. Where there is smoke there must be a fire, how many more has our passports.

  2. viewsexpressed
    January 10, 2017

    “US firm defends Citizenship by Investment Programme”….no…oohhhh no, this should read:

    “US Firm defends their heavy financial interest…and will walk and fly away happily ever after..” , While the people of Dominica suffer under a corrupt PM Labour Government. Shameful you guys, shameful Skerrit.

    • riley
      January 11, 2017

      So you’re against Skerritt as an individual and not the CIP program? hmmmmmm SMDH. What a traitor, you don’t love your country, you should leave.

  3. viewsexpressed
    January 9, 2017

    Some people , e.g., Gregor, the Cyril’s, etc., need ideas on alternatives to developmental programmes. We had a lot where are they. Skerrit and his government killed it, where endless farmers got a salary for their families, today it is a few rich boys who gain and do nothing for Dominica but promote inept Skerrit.
    You want ideas, here are some. And remember development is not a fast food action. Pregnancy is not 2 months, its nine months. …and it has to be nurtured to grow and invest and self sustain. Skerrit government is clueless, corrupt, ignorant and politically stupid.
    1. Create employment,
    2. reduce the cabinet by 25%,
    3. decrease the number of useless ministries,
    4. get agriculture rolling again,
    5. Skerrit to learn to be creative, intuitive, use intuitive, not back door fast food deals by night,
    6. get our infrastructure working that people would want to drive safely on our roads, nor dangerous, Finally..
    7. Get rid of this corrupt Labour Government and its…

  4. GrandBayrian
    January 9, 2017

    Tell that to the 12 Chinese nationals that were prevented from entering Canada in the late 90’s. Why? they were traveling on Dominica’s passport. I guess it no big deal to Dominicans, since many of us are not able to travel outside the Caribbean. But for the few who can, you are subject to primary and secondary screening at north American airports. The question we must ask, is why would a Government subject its people to such hassle? only in Dominica.

    • BEB
      January 9, 2017

      Which 90’s are u referring to , during the 90’s there were 2 different political parties in power

    • CBI is Not Safe
      January 10, 2017

      My friend (so he says) who has a DNO CBI passport was rectally examined, searched and detained as several airports. He wants his money back and is buying a St. Kitts passport. He is a muslim

      The CBI people must clean up their act as soon a Dominica passport will be worthless as a travel document. Worthless.

    • riley
      January 11, 2017

      You speak like a fowl in a cage, you need to live in other islands…lol

  5. Dominican
    January 9, 2017

    I suggest every country starts selling their passports. Many of us supporting the government claim that they do anyway, like the U.S.A., UK. and so on. if they all start doing that our own Dominican passport will become almost worthless and then, as Angelo quoted comrade Napoleon from animal farm last night, where should we be?

    • DOCTOR
      January 10, 2017

      Your Passport is worthless now !! There are no benefits to having a passport from a third world country.

  6. In defence of a new kind of Slavery?
    January 9, 2017

    That is the same Ukrainian-born man also agents for peddling our passports and making millions from our collective property. To hell with Dominica and Dominicans. During the 16 or so Years ,where are all those millions and investments? the international community against money-laundering, corruption, fraud, criminals, so $$$$$$ ringing now to be spent? Panama Papers scandal have them trembling.

    Dominicans that’s the same Ukrainian man. another foreigner, that have Dominicans in his back-pocket, thanks to the Cabal and their selling of our passports, bringing in MILLIONS to them.

    NO INVESTMENTS in the productive sector. A few SUCKING the BLOOD of Dominicans, many of whom continue to betray the ideals of their foreparents, hard-work, respect, truth, integrity. Whose FOOLs we have become? Passport-sellers Sucking DA dry. Myet. Myet for You

    http://dominicanewsonline

  7. %
    January 9, 2017

    Is that the same guy that was on Q95,last year..Well my friend maybe you can talk in glowing terms about the programme in several countries,but in Dominica it seriously lacks accountability and transparency,and not even those in government could defend it…They all went to hide,when they were supposed to demonstrate to the world,how wonderful the prhogramme is..So you have it all wrong for Diminica.

  8. TORKSPEC
    January 9, 2017

    This is the same guy that was on q95 last year,Nuri Katz i dont expect you to say nothing negative of the CBI program in Dominica because if you do , i Guaranty your License to sell Dominica’s citizenship will be voided so please stop talking you are only interested in your wallet

  9. LifeandDeath
    January 9, 2017

    With all the Background Checks they have going on still Criminals on Interpol most wanted list get past them..Crooked Liars!!..Feed your garbage to your Kochon!!

    • Titiwi
      January 9, 2017

      As mr. Kalin of Hartley & Partners explained on the CBS programme. They can only advise, but governments decide. In our case it is the P.M., who has the ultimate say as to who will be granted a cititizenship or not. in other words he can overrule the advice of an agent/consultant.. And as mr. Kalin explained, in his experience applicants have been granted citizenship to whom he would not open the door. I guess the old saying that “money talks” still applies. Let’s hope that some of our P.M’s golden eggs do not turn out to be rotten eggs.

  10. Enough
    January 9, 2017

    The main role of the Opposition is to question the government of the day and hold them accountable to the public. They are meant to challenge the policies of the government and produce alternatives. The Opposition should work in a way that influences outcomes, to ensure positive enhancement at the national level.

    In order to ensure positive development, we need a strong government, as well as a strong opposition, who in addition to opposing can provide feasible and practical alternatives. Opposing without proposing solutions is not constructive. The government has to work as a team, and the opposition has to work as a team. This is not what we have been witnessing, There seems to be quite a big of disaggregation and imbalance.

    It is time to pause, take a step back, and reflect on where improvements need to be made. No judgement, no ego. Because the people of Dominica are intelligent, and really, it’s enough.

  11. Reasoning
    January 9, 2017

    :?: I can’t understand why it is that all of those who benefit and defending the sales of Dominica’s passport are calling it economic investments, when in fact we have not been seeing anyone of those investors and investments on the ground,neither are there employment and job creation! Is it that the only jobs and employment created are for those involved in the selling of the passports :?:

  12. January 9, 2017

    ACPC you operate out of the USA right? can you please advise the Skerrit Government to operate and be transparent like the US and Canada; then wheel and come back and speak to us the illiterate people of this country.

  13. Iloveda
    January 9, 2017

    The CBI program is lucrative for this firm, which is not a US firm. It’s only right for the owner of the firm to interject considering it’s the sale of our passports that keeps his business afloat. This is the same firm that gave tablets to the Dominican government…..Let that sink in.

  14. Noreen C. Edwards
    January 9, 2017

    Where does it fully benefit the majority of ordinary Dominican citizens? Only after the Panama papers exposed the accounts of people and organisations did the Dominican government started talking about projects by the CBI or passport funds.

  15. Citizen Four
    January 9, 2017

    Dear Dominica,

    According to their website, Apex Capital Partners does Citizen By Investment programmes with quite a few countries in addition to Dominica, it seems; Antigua, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Grenada, Hungary, Portugal, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, United Kingdom, United States of America.

    Further reading will explain the different types of CBI Programmes offered by different countries, and the various incentives offered. In some countries you get a passport right away and can also benefit from certain tax advantages. In other countries, like the USA, big money investors have to go through this US Immigrant Investor Program, get US conditional residence (green card), which can lead to a passport. These programs seem to have been around since the 1980s, perhaps even before.

    Different countries would obviously have a different motive for establishing CBI, but in every country, it is seen as a method of bringing financing not only in cash, but also in the form of direct…

    • Citizen Four contd
      January 9, 2017

      There are many advantages of such a programme to a country as well as to the applicant. The issue is not that the people do not want to programme; we do. But we want a bit more transparency. If the programme is to work well, shouldn’t every Dominican be well informed and well equipped with the information needed to be able to promote the CBI in a positive manner.

      If there was some transparency (and accountability), Dominica citizens would know:
      – the application process, including the processing time
      – the related costs (such as the Minimum investment required)
      – the target market
      – the process of due diligence
      – is a visit, residence or oath of allegiance required
      – where the funds go, and how they are used

      We would be able to see first hand the direct benefits to the country, the advantages at the national level. However, as it stands, we do not know, as so people are left without clear understanding.

      • Citizen Four contd
        January 9, 2017

        Where there are advantages, there are also disadvantages. We simply want to know what efforts have been made and what processes have been implemented to avoid or minimize these advantages. People see to have a concern about the process of background checks etc. Nobody (including the powers that be) wants to be in a position where they would have any sort of setback due to a passport being ‘red flagged’ due to country of issue. It is a legitimate concern, but a concern that can be significantly diminished with the dissemination of more complete, transparent information.

        Perhaps the government website can have a very simple user-friendly page to explain the CBI and its process; with graphs and pie charts and figures and lists of the various projects or activities being funded.

      • Captain
        January 10, 2017

        All that information is on the CBIU website.

        Dominicans dont seem to like to read.

      • riley
        January 11, 2017

        Very well put, I must agree with CAPTAIN as well that Dominicans don’t like to read. The information is on the CBIU Website.

  16. MILITANT DOMINICAN
    January 9, 2017

    I Am A PROUD Dominican, & A Naturalized Citizen Of The United States! I Must Say That HON. Lenox Lintons Global Exposure Of The Nonsense That’s Been Going On Under The Covers Thus Far Is The Best Thing That Has Happened To / For Our Country Since This Dictator Has Taken Control Of What Was Once A Proud, Peaceful, Virgin Island. This Broke Bastard Of A PM Went From LITERALLY RAGS To RICHES Over Night By Simply Being Voted Into Power. Facts Be Told, Our Deceased PM Rossie Douglas Clearly Stated In An Interview That He Was The One Who Gave This So Called Current PM A Small Loan To Purchase A USED Vehicle As An Incentive To Campaign For Him; & Now He Has Coincidentally Became One Of The Wealthest Men In The Caribbean By Taking Food Out The Mouth Of The POOR People Of Our Beloved Country. What We SINCERELY NEED Is To Have The UNITED NATIONS Jump in To INVESTIGATE What We have Going On Down There, INPEACH This Man, & Put Him In JAIL Till The Day He DIES Before It’s Too LATE. We Are In…

  17. Proactive
    January 9, 2017

    Apex Capital Partners is the company which gave 200 tablets last year January right?

    • localhost
      January 9, 2017

      for real na

    • Observer
      January 9, 2017

      Yes, so?

  18. dissident
    January 9, 2017

    Why is Skerrit handling this like a business corporate!

    I can imagine the amount of money being paid to these non governmental organizations to defend the government program.Skerrit refuses to take the mike and put his face and crooked tongue on the international stage.
    My goodness the man is Prime minister!
    Not even emmanuel. Nathan the the head of the CBI unit?
    None of the people directly responsible willing to defend their action!
    Money is not an issue eh!

    I am convinced that De pm is walking treacherously!
    Giving me more reason to lose confidence in his ability as leader of the government! !!!

    Is when people vote all you in office that you doing with our power!
    Didn’t I vote for Skerrit to open his big mouth and tell CBS to go to hell.it is none of their damn business?

    Nuri katz is not a representative in our parliament. …neither apex capital nor Henley and partners!

    People vote for all you. Open your damn mouth and defend us!!

    Move!!!!!!!!

    • CBI Sales now $35 million dollars a month
      January 9, 2017

      CBI only brings in $35 million dollars a month. Can’t see why there is all this problem. Just let the PM get on with his job for all of us. He is rebuilding schools, roads, bridges and stuff like that. What’s the problem?/

  19. Da in New York
    January 9, 2017

    Tell Yuri to start selling US passports and let us know if his company will keep it secret and not report the income to the treasury. Also can the money not go to city hall with open accountability . He is full of hot air.

    • Captain
      January 9, 2017

      That company does market the EB5 program and the Canadian program.

  20. In defence of a new kind of Slavery?
    January 9, 2017

    One-by-one those who defend Massa, corruption, lies, trickery, narcissism, will come out in defence of the SELLING of OUR PASSPORTS. Those foreigners are having a field day selling our passports. and making their millions, to hell with Dominica and Dominicans. The local Dominican agents SELLING OUR PASSPORTS will put their life on the line to defend Massa and SELLING of our ordinary and DIPLOMATIC passports. They do not care 2 hoots about their fellow men and women struggling to make a living. The rural folks, in particular, in fact the majority of us Dominicans are witnessing our standards of living going down, down, down, while a few are rubbing shoulders with millionaires and billionaires and bathing in millions, through the sale of OUR PASSPORTS.

    Those passport selling millionaires have been taking advantage of the ignorance and fear of our people. Many have decided to defend Massa, foreign or local, making millions selling our passports.

    • CBI Sales now $35 million dollars a month
      January 9, 2017

      If you are so jealous of those making money from our passports, why don’t you apply to Skerrit to be an agent? When you get your agency, you will find out that selling passports is a very, very tough job and for Skerrit to be bringing in more than $35 million dollars a month from it, is nothing short of genius.

      Skerrit for life, I say!

      • viewsexpressed
        January 9, 2017

        The devil always looks for devils to encounter for life. How blind and deceitful.

  21. committed
    January 9, 2017

    Skerrit and his kleptocrats will try and fool kackasses as themselves, but all we,the Patriots are saying is stop selling our passports to crooks and criminals.
    Skerit, what in this you don’t understand?
    Ask your mentor and good body,Ralph Gonsalves.

    • January 9, 2017

      I just listened to Skerrit, Blackmore, Nassief, Sam and Vince and this is just disgraceful to the security of Dominica and in the global market for these men to continue with their rude and insulting and out and out disrespect to those who question how these men are depriving Dominicans and Dominica of a great deal and it got to stop, can any one say it’s not true that we have a an industry that is $2 millions and is moving high as we stop to call each other names, where does all this money gone. I hear the PM mentioned things that money was put a side on and now he is saying will come under the CBI program, and what ever happen to the money we collected during Ericka so why is it that those damages are now mentioned under the CBI program.. Dominicans we are all taken advantage of, let’s hold our ppl’s to the firer for once why aren’t they speaking .

  22. Concern Citizen
    January 9, 2017

    For those who is against the CBI programme please suggest a different was of generating finance for the country. Everyone is quick to critized the government but none is coming up with solutions of how to generate finance and investment for the country.

    Lennox; you need to stop bringing the country down and really do your job properly. You have the right to question what is happening in the government as the oppsotion leader but the way you are going about doing it; it’s not in a professional manner – it’s in a ghetto manner – not what the country needs. I think it time you step down and allow someone who can do the job better than you.

    • MILITANT DOMINICAN
      January 9, 2017

      U R AN IDIOT

    • AP
      January 9, 2017

      Can you tell me how the billions of dollars received from selling passports for 16 years has financed Dominicans excluding the ministers of the Labour Party?

    • January 9, 2017

      My goodness this is the best question you can ask? I thought export is a main way of generating I’mcome in a country! People stop making all you people in government more corrupt.

    • Push ON
      January 9, 2017

      Check UWP manifesto last election…….AND DIDN”T SKERRIT HIMSELF GAVE OTHER WAYS TO GENERATE INCOME IN LABOUR MANIFESTO LAST ELECTION!!!????? what ever happened to these ideas??!!!

    • LifeandDeath
      January 9, 2017

      Brazen to ask Lennox to step down..are u asking Skerrit even to be accountable at all? Citizens like you deserve a Prime Minister like Skerrit..It’s just a pity everybody feels the pain from Dumb decisions of a clueless leader. Get Real please..

    • viewsexpressed
      January 9, 2017

      You illiterate so called investors out there in your comfort zone, know not what you talk about? “Our team witnesses it first-hand the extensive due diligence process, which involves background checks…..etc ad nausea,” said Nuri Katz, founder and president of Apex Capital Partners Corp. There are too many questions unanswered to place credibility on you, your organisation Skerrit, and his corrupt Labour government. Dominicans are in poverty, suffering, have to run oversea for health care and you sit there in your comfort zone talking Bullshit to us. Slavery and Massa days done.
      What about our Parliament, the highest authority in our island, we the people voted for.? We did not vote you, you were picked unceremously outside of our internal procedures and checks. You out there oblivious
      to what happens in Dominica as far as our democracy is concerned. This is a lazy government shows no knowledge of development & for years this handout has not help the poor. This government is…

    • Tjebe fort
      January 9, 2017

      That is like saying to a prostitute that here are better ways top exploit her assets. When she asks you how, will you tell her brother? Of course today it also have male prostitutes and I apologise for letting them out of the equation.

    • viewsexpressed
      January 9, 2017

      You want ideas, here are some. And remember development is not a fast food action. Pregnancy is not 2 months, its nine months. …and it has to be nurtured to grow and invest and self sustain. Skerrit government is clueless, corrupt, ignorant and politically stupid.
      1. Create employment,
      2. reduce the cabinet by 25%,
      3. decrease the number of useless ministries,
      4. get agriculture rolling again,
      5. Skerrit to learn to be creative, intuitive, use intuitive, not back door fast food deals by night,
      6. get our infrastructure working that people would want to drive safely on our roads, nor dangerous,

    • samantha
      January 9, 2017

      @concern citizen,,,what are you? A fool?? I wonder if you have a job….oh wait!!! You must be at the red clinic every week begging and singing for your super. Guess we now know where the money is invested. To people like you who will take crumbs from the rich man’s table.

  23. Mr. Care
    January 9, 2017

    Apex is owned by Yuri Katz please with their nonesense of us fI’m

    • Tjebe fort
      January 9, 2017

      I believe you are right bro. and that Apex is a Canadian company from Montreal. Am I wrong?

    • CBI Sales now $35 million dollars a month
      January 9, 2017

      So?

  24. January 9, 2017

    Yes Nuri Katz you are a direct beneficiary from the sale of our Country’s passports so you will support it. However, the article also quoted Lennox Linton’s statements of legitimate concerns about the way the CBI program is being administered. Katz your statement is about how much money is being made and how these monies are important to the Countries involved, Dominican Citizens however are more concerned about the running of the program, transparency and accountability in DOMINICA…especially with regards to our Diplomatic Appointments. Katz, we remember you as the Russian who was interviewed by Angelo Allen and we know that you could care less about our people or Country…you care about your pocket!!!! Get lost!!!

  25. Dominican
    January 9, 2017

    This is the same company, who are listed as authorized to sell our citizenship and have an office in Roseau. The CEO of that company is the same person, who appeared on Angelo Allen’s programme to try and justify the programme. Of course he must defend it. As I understand it mr. Linton is not opposed to a CBI programme but is critical of its lack of transparency and accountability and I agree with him.

    • Barbara Saunders
      January 9, 2017

      Dominican

      I believe the gentleman also indicated that one of the main interviewees on the CBS show works with a competitor due diligence company. Conflict of interest? Would he reasonably be expected to give an objective commentary?

      I think that no matter what education is given about the programme, those persons with a political bias will disregard the information in preference to rumours and unproven allegations because that is what advances their cause. I guess I would have the same attitude if I got up every morning and listened to the bombardment of negativity about everything in Dominica.

      Dominica is where I live and hope to continue living if God gives me a few more days. My attitude is, therefore, if something is wrong on blue side or red. It is wrong. My attitude also is unless you can bring credible information to show that what you are saying is fact, I reserve the right to analyse what you are saying to determine whether it is plausible and proven!

      • viewsexpressed
        January 9, 2017

        Barbara, this government is very corrupt…we do not trust them, they have stolen our money. this is reality. have you heard of the Bin Bobol,? It is the same Hon Linton who discovered their thievery hoping they will get away. they denied if for weeks and as the evidence propped out, they admitted. this is public thi9every , planned executed by a government

  26. JBaptiste
    January 9, 2017

    When everyone who wants a second passport gets one, what happens? Since we have to assume that a renewal incurs no more cost.
    Will we then consider sustainable means of income. Like agriculture etc. Or do we wait for the Inevitable.

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