The CBS programme looked at the PAST problems of the program in SKN without looking at the tremendous reforms made in the past 2 years when we implemented the recommendations of the IPSA report, overhauled the CIU, made legislative amendments and instituted additional layers of due diligence and security.
We have even undertaken a “look back” subjecting past successful applicants to new due diligence tests. Our PM has reported to the Parliament and the Nation on numbers of passports issued and other details. First time this has ever happened.
Applicants now go through additional layers of security screening including screening by the JRCC in Barbados to which the US government contributes. We have actually cancelled passports issued to persons who later turn out to be problematic.
CBS failed to mention that in SKN citizens of Iran, Syria and Afghanistan cannot apply to our programme. This is currently unique to the SKN programme. CBS touted the obvious falsehood that Chris Kalin invented the CBI programme.
In fact our programme was the first in the world and invented an entire new global industry in 1984. Our programs is over 30 years old while Mr Kalin’s involvement dates back a decade or so.
Most egregiously, CBS gave a negative broad brush of Caribbean CBI programmes but interestingly completely ignored identical approaches to citizenship or residence by investment or fast track citizenship programs practiced in EU countries such as Malta, Cyprus, Portugal and in the USA and Canada.
It was a deliberate policy for example why rich Hong Kong Chinese were wooed to British Colombia by the Canadian government. Even now the US EB5 visa programme is helping a construction boom in Miami.
Yes you can invest in the US and get a green card and fast track to citizenship. Did CBS miss all this?
Real investigative journalism would have given us a true picture of the global industry which SKN started 3 decades ago.
Meanwhile Former Prime Minister of St. Kitts-Nevis Dr Denzil Douglas says the Team Unity Government is silent on CBS’ 60 minute program on the CBI because they had adversely and negatively trashed the program while in opposition.
Douglas speaking to Freedom Fm Newsdesk on Wednesday noted that while Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and the Opposition Leader of Dominica Lennox Linton had commented on the program, no one from the Team Unity Government had offered any comment.
Dr Douglas further pointed out that the CBI had enabled SKN to achieve a 7% growth in 2014 and had been the basis for infrastructural and tourism developments. He further argued that the USA, Canada and the UK had similar CBI programs to sustain growth in their economics.
The SKN Opposition Leader is currently in St Lucia along with Former Governor General Sir Edmund Lawrence for the funeral of Former ECCB Governor Sir Dwight K Venner.