The Prime Minister don’t understand that our federation do not sell passport,” says former Prime Minster Dr. Denzil Douglas.
While speaking on the stamp amendment bill in the national assembly on Tuesday, Mr. Douglas pointed out that the Prime Minister at his recent Press conference said that his government has been selling passports to deserving individuals and not to undesirables. A statement the former Prime Minister and finance minister said was inaccurate as St. Kitts and Nevis never sold passports, but rather offered citizenship though investment via the Sugar Investment Diversification Fund (SIDF). Douglas called on Prime Minister Harris to use the correct language in promoting the federation’s Citizenship By Investment Program.
Since taking office in February of this year Dr. Harris has travelled to several counties including the UK, the USA, Singapore and Hong Kong to promote the dying Economic Citizenship program, which was number one in the world before Team Unity came to power.
Leading up to the 2015 general elections Dr. Harris and other members of Team Unity leveled harsh criticism against the program which was contributing some 50% to the federal budget. They also charged that the Labour Party government “was selling passports like black pudding on a Saturday.” Dr. Douglas asked if the government was seeking to do what they were falsely complaining about.
The government claim they are reforming the CBI program according to specifications made by foreign countries including the USA, Canada and the U.K. It is believed that those countries are also screening and approving applicants to the St. Kitts Nevis program, which competes with there own program.
Dr. Douglas also told the house that revenues are down significantly, due in part to a lack of new investments into the SIDF and the country since Harris became Prime Minister. He said the recent claim by Queen’s Counsel Charles Wilkin that the SIDF was unconstitutionally established is contributing to the demise of the program. Wilkin made the declaration at last months consultation on the economy in advance of the budget presentation in December. He said that the SIDF funds should be placed in the consolidated fund and not in a trust as is the case.
Antigua and Barbuda has become the leading provider of economic citizenship in the Caribbean, followed closely by Dominica. St. Lucia is expect to start their program in January next year. If the opposition in St. Vincent and the Grenadines win the December 7 poll they are expected to introduce a similar economic citizenship program.