Citizenship by Investment: A Commitment to Transparency and Accountability

Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew’s Commitment to Diversifying the Economy

In a Special Interview today, Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew confirmed the Government’s commitment to diversifying the economy to reduce reliance on the nation’s Citizenship by Investment programme while continuing to improve it and holding accountable those who may have abused that programme in the past.

Dr. Drew emphasizes that any suggestion that his administration is blind, or even insensitive, to past issues with the CBI program is false. The Prime Minister assures the citizens of Saint Kitts and Nevis that the wheels of justice are turning, stating “we do not make grandiose pronouncements or broadcast highly produced videos as some do. Instead, we will take the legal actions that justice demands, but we will do so with actual proof while affording everyone due process.”

Addressing Allegations of Wrongdoing

Prime Minister Drew’s statements came in response to public commentary from Phillipe Martinez, a foreign national who has alleged wrongdoing in both Saint Kitts and Nevis’s and Saint Lucia’s CBI programmes to further a lawsuit in the United States in which he hopes to collect exorbitant amounts for his own personal gain.

In that lawsuit, Martinez, a French film producer who heads MSR Media, alleges that public officials have ignored years of wrongdoing in the CBI programme, raising claims about deals that were brokered during the previous administration. Martinez has accused other CBI participants of underselling citizenships, suggesting that practice has hampered his ability to sell CBI shares his companies have received based on his dealings with the administration of former Prime Minister Timothy Harris. In that lawsuit, Martinez and his companies seek $450,000,000 from the named defendants. The Federation is not even a party to that lawsuit.

Government’s Commitment to Transparency and Accountability

Dr. Drew shared this morning that individuals purporting to represent the interests of Martinez and his MSR companies approached the Drew Administration and requested at least US $40 million as a settlement. Dr. Drew made clear that he would never bow to pressure from questionable actors or consider such desperate attempts to reach public funds at the expense of the people.

Dr. Drew outlined the important steps the government has already taken to address challenges with the CBI programme, which he inherited from the previous administration.

Conclusion

Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew has made it clear that the government is committed to diversifying the economy, improving the CBI programme, and holding accountable those who may have abused the programme in the past. The government is taking proactive steps to address challenges with the CBI programme, including developing and enacting reforms to strengthen the integrity of CBI programmes and criminal penalties for underselling citizenships.

FAQs

Q: What is the government’s commitment to the CBI programme?
A: The government is committed to diversifying the economy, improving the CBI programme, and holding accountable those who may have abused the programme in the past.

Q: What steps has the government taken to address challenges with the CBI programme?
A: The government has taken important steps to address challenges with the CBI programme, including developing and enacting reforms to strengthen the integrity of CBI programmes and criminal penalties for underselling citizenships.

Q: What is the government’s position on the allegations of wrongdoing made by Phillipe Martinez?
A: The government has addressed the allegations made by Phillipe Martinez, stating that the wheels of justice are turning and that the government will take legal actions that justice demands, but will do so with actual proof while affording everyone due process.

Q: What is the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability?
A: The government is committed to transparency and accountability, and is taking proactive steps to ensure that the CBI programme is run in a fair and transparent manner.