BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AS a result of Canada’s recent imposition of visa requirements on nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis due to national security concerns, Federal Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Mark Brantley has placed the blame squarely on the shoulders of the Labour Party Administration.
In an address to the nation yesterday (Nov. 23), Brantley said that the chickens have now come home to roost and this unprecedented step taken by the North American country signalled that the Canadian Government is unhappy with the Federation’s security measures in place in relation to the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme.
“The problem now though is that you and I will pay a price for those undesirables whom the Denzil Douglas-led Administration has allowed to access our passports. For me and for the elected majority in our Parliament, this is a price too high. Our entire Citizenship by Investment Programme is now under enhanced scrutiny and we cannot be surprised if other friendly countries like the United Kingdom and countries in Western Europe follow suit. It must be clear to all that without visa free access to friendly Western countries the St. Kitts Nevis passport loses its value to foreign investors under the Citizenship by Investment Programme,” Brantley said.
The Federal Opposition Leader referred to a national address he made on November 27, 2013 that dealt with an Iranian national named Alizera Moghadam who, according to media reports, was questioned by Canadian border agents whilst holding a diplomatic passport issued by the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis.
Brantley said the media reports had revealed some alarming information, which he listed as: “The Iranian national stated that he paid US$1 million for the diplomatic passport of this country; the Iranian national could not otherwise have entered Canada visa free were it not for a St. Kitts Nevis passport; the Iranian national claimed to Canadian border agents that he was entering Canada for meetings with the Canadian Prime Minister on behalf of the Government and people of St. Kitts Nevis; and the claims by the Iranian national of a meeting with the Canadian Prime Minister were categorically false.”
He emphasised that that incident in Canada had led to immediate concerns there as to the safety and security of that country's borders.
“As a consequence,” Brantley said, “the media reports confirmed that the Canadian authorities made urgent representations to the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis raising serious concerns about not just this, but other incidents involving St. Kitts Nevis passport holders entering or seeking to enter Canada using the visa free status currently granted by that country to nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis.”
He spoke to a statement made on this particular issue in the Federal Parliament by the Minister of Foreign Minister.
“On or about the 26th day of November 2013, the Honourable Patrice Nisbett, in his capacity as Minister of Foreign Affairs, was compelled under increasing pressure to make a statement to the National Parliament addressing this issue.
“Mr. Nisbett identified the Iranian gentleman and confirmed that this Iranian national had been granted diplomatic status by the Cabinet of St. Kitts and Nevis led by Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas. Minister Nisbett also confirmed that the Iranian national was made a special envoy for St. Kitts and Nevis to Turkey and Azerbaijan.”
He asserted that what was proclaimed by some to be fiction was then confirmed by Minister Nisbett as a fact.
“Of particular note is that during that statement to the nation, Minister Nisbett as Minister of Foreign Affairs assured us all that the visa free access to Canada, which our citizens had always enjoyed, was not under threat,” he added.
Brantley touched on a declaration the Prime Minister made on July 30 last year, noting that the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas “suddenly declared that nationals of Iran and Afghanistan would no longer be permitted to apply for St. Kitts Nevis citizenship through the Citizenship by Investment Programme”.
“At the time,” he explained, “the Prime Minister said nothing more than his Government was reorganising the programme. Not a word was uttered to the nation that this action was prompted by the direct intervention of Canadian authorities and the threat that this Iranian national in possession of a St. Kitts Nevis diplomatic passport could jeopardise the visa free access to Canada currently enjoyed by Kittitians and Nevisians.”
Brantley reminded the nation of the statement he made last year when he said: “I believe based on what I have seen that our visa free travel to Canada enjoyed by our citizens has been seriously jeopardized by this international scandal. Indeed Minister Nisbett in his own words in documents seen by me urged his Cabinet colleagues to act, citing ‘the sensitivity of this matter and particularly the possible implications for the continuation of the visa free status which the Federation enjoys with Canada’."
He pointed out that the nation is still unaware whether Moghadam continues to enjoy not just St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship but also diplomatic status as well.
Brantley lamented that the Prime Minister is mum on the amount of passports issued and to whom, and that funds from the Economic Citizenship Programme are only being enjoyed by a chosen few.
“Our Prime Minister has steadfastly refused to provide any information to our people as to the numbers of passports issued or the countries from whence applicants are being drawn. The Economic Citizenship Programme has suddenly emerged as the biggest business in St. Kitts with well-known friends and associates of the ruling regime enjoying the lion’s share of that business. Millions of dollars are being generated for a select few but I ask, ‘At what cost to our national pride and dignity?’”
Continuing on the Moghadam issue, Brantley the scandal was quickly followed by an Advisory from the United States Government that was issued on May 20, 2014 in which the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network warned the world that St. Kitts Nevis CBI Programme was being abused by foreign nationals who wished to engage in illicit financial activity.
“The warnings therefore were clear. It was obvious that the security features of our CBI Programme were causing great concern within the borders of friendly nations,” he added.
In a message to the Government and people of the North American country, Brantley pleaded: “I wish to convey publicly to the Government and people of the great nation of Canada that we in St. Kitts and Nevis cherish the close bonds of friendship that have always united our two peoples. We will work tirelessly with Canada and other friends and allies to ensure that we take every step to protect the historic bonds of friendship and cooperation that we have always enjoyed.”
The Deputy Leader of Team Unity declared that the Parliamentary Opposition Members, which he stressed would form the next Government of the twin-island Federation, would immediately upon taking office sit urgently with the Canadian Government to undertake a wholesale review of all security features of the CBI Programme.
“We would wish to ensure that our programme poses no risks whatsoever to the Government and people of Canada or to any other nation in the world. The legitimacy and security of the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Programme has to be protected and preserved. The alternative would be problems not just for the CBI Programme and the dramatic negative impact it can have on the St. Kitts-Nevis’ economy, but also severe problems for the born and bred citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis,” he postulated.
Brantley told the nation that this is not a time for finger-pointing, noting that the people of the Federation could ill afford to fiddle melodiously whilst Basseterre and Charlestown burn. “But I end this address by asking rhetorically: ‘Was the receipt of US$1 million for a diplomatic passport by an Iranian worth this mighty blow to our nation’s economy, to our nation’s pride and dignity and to the proud people of St. Kitts and Nevis?’”
He ended his address with a plea to the nation, asking them to join with Team Unity in the restoration of St. Kitts and Nevis.
“My fellow citizens I ask you to ponder on these things and recognize that the consequences of bad decisions actuated by greed and corruption are felt not just by those who make those decisions but by you and your families.
“We are truly at a cross roads and I invite each and every one of you to join the cause that is right, true and just. Join us in restoring decency to our country. Join us so that we can speak in one voice to Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and friendly Nations throughout the world that we the people of St. Kitts and Nevis are and will forever be trusted international partners in preserving safety, security and our cherished democratic ideals.”
