BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, June 10th 2014 (TUCOM) -- The governments of the United States of America, Canada and European Union are very concerned about the failure of the Douglas illegitimate regime to usher in a new era of transparency, accountability and good governance relating to the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Programme.
On 20 May 2014, the United States of America Treasury Department Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FINCEN) issued advisory warning persons to be wary of illicit actors and citizens of Iran (Iran is considered by the USA as a state sponsor of terrorism) participating in the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Programme.
Since that time the Douglas regime has yet to articulate a clear policy to overhaul the tarnished St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Programme to ensure it meets the best practices and norms of the international community. Not only has the government failed to elaborate a credible policy it has done absolutely nothing to reform the Citizenship by Investment Programme.
The United States advisory came less than a year after the Canadian government officials demanded changes in the Citizenship by Investment Programme. In a July 2013submission to the Douglas Cabinet, Patrice Nisbett, Minister of Homeland Security called for a complete overhaul of the Citizenship by Investment Programme(CIB) by an independent group.
To date Denzil Douglas has impeded or refused to effectsuch an overhaul.Other recommendations by the Homeland Security Minister called for:
(1) the insertion of the country of origin field in the St. Kitts and Nevis passports
(2) the notation in the passports of name changesby deed poll by economic citizens
(3) enhancement of the due diligence at CBI Unit
(4) prohibition of Iranians from participating in the CBI Programme
None of these recommendations have been implemented nor has any definitive time frame being given for their implementation. The corrupt Douglas regime by its’ do nothing policy seems hell-bent on maintaining a cloak of secrecy, corruption, and financial impropriety in the CBI programme. It is that cloak that the government of the United States of America sought to pierce by the issuance of the recent advisory on our CBI Programme. Service providers have charged that the illegitimate Prime Minister is too involved in the affairs of the CBI and that, rather than allow atransparent, rule based system to prevail,the CBI has become the personal fiefdom of the illegitimate Prime Minister. Processing of documents seems only to come after special nudging in a variety of forms. The circuitous route and bureaucracy laden system of processing remind some of thecorrupt banana regimes.
Responsible governments are rightly concerned that their financial space and border security can be compromised by the laxity in controls at the Citizenship by Investment Unit. Team Unity thereforecalls on the illegitimate regime to implement the recommendations proposed by Patrice Nisbett, as soon as possible. Dr Harris said “so that an new air of confidence can be infused in the CBI Programme,theillegitimate minority leader must remove the Citizenship by Investment Programme from under his portfolio,credible independent Kittitians and Nevisians musttake control of the CBI programme and the Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation (SIDF) must no longer be used as the political slush fund of the minority leader. The audited financial statements ofthe SIDF for 2012 and 2013 must be released to the public immediately.”
TheCitizenship by Investment Programme is the cash cow of the illegitimate regime. Avarice, greed and corruption have become the modus operandi of thisillegitimate government. The FINCEN advisory leads us to the view that the regime is in bed with nefarious characters and having made commitments to these people regarding the acquisition of our passports the illegitimate government and its henchmen seem unable to reverse course and do what’s right for our citizens.
The longer the Douglas regime takes to implement its agreements and obligations to the international community the greater the risks for St Kitts and Nevis. This government has been cavalier and reckless in its management of the CBI. Only a change in governmentwill lead tothe serious overhaul of the CBI programme thereby restoring the credibility, trust and good will of the international community and the protection of our citizens from a citizenship that is scorned by the rest of the international community, a passport of diminished value, visa restrictions and other sanctions.
The United States, Canada and European Union governments will not wait much longer while the Douglas regime compromises their financial space and borders. The damage to our beloved country will be calamitous. Even as we speak, these governments through their criminal intelligence units and other organs are contemplating what their next move will be against the holders of St. Kitts and Nevis passports. I therefore urge our citizens to take back our country from the corrupt Douglas regime. Team Unity is ready to do what is right for our citizens and residents. Team Unity is prepared to make St Kitts and Nevis a respected member of the international community. Our words will be our bond. We will say what we will do and we will do what we say.
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