Criticism of St Kitts-Nevis gov't by Middle Eastern agents questioned

When it comes to investor immigration, St Kitts and Nevis can boast one of the world’s strongest reputations for integrity and due diligence. Yet its prized Citizenship by Investment Programme came under siege last November following allegations of abuse under the real estate option. It was contended that a handful of agents had sought to undersell citizenship and gain unfair economic benefit at the expense of the Government and people of the Federation.

According to ex-civil servant Nigel Faron, the Government and the Citizenship by Investment Unit were placed in a difficult position: having to ascertain the truth of the allegations whilst also acting decisively. “I myself have had concerns about the authorities’ sluggish response, particularly with respect to the Ramada Resort. Yet I question the eagerness that certain Middle Eastern developers and agents have shown in criticising the Government’s actions,” he said.

“One Dubai-based agent in particular has complained rather forcefully about the authorities not reacting – to his satisfaction – to his warnings about unsanctioned citizenship by investment deals. Yet it is unclear what the reaction was or how these warnings were made. It is even less clear why the Government should have taken significant note of them given that this agent has been connected with at least one infamous citizenship by investment programme – specifically the Comoros scheme – without ever blowing the whistle.”

The Comoros Citizenship by Investment Programme ran from 2008 to 2017. It was originally established in cooperation with the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait as a means for these two countries to award citizenship to stateless Bidoon living in their territories but ineligible for local citizenship. The Comoros Programme was, however, expanded to include persons from other nations, such as Iran. In 2017, a Comorian parliamentary commission began examining the sale of Comorian citizenship following allegations of corruption, poor applicant screening, and at least US$100 million in missing revenue. In 2018, Comoros’ Minister of the Interior, Mohamed Daoudou, said the Programme involved matters of security on an international level.

Faron continues: “Agents are invited to international conferences where they are given a platform from which to express their thoughts on citizenship by investment to a wide audience. They then use their renown to create a media storm. I wonder if anyone vets these people prior to giving them this stage. Do they know that some agents have themselves had their passport revoked? Do they ask why, or do they just accept their conference sponsorship money?”

Citizens who have questions about how the Government has been handling the real estate accusations, or about its formal correspondence with citizenship by investment agents, may soon be able to obtain information under the Freedom of Information Act 2018. “At least in theory, we have an Act that should be able to let us review information held by public bodies and disincentivise wrongdoing. It is a shame that the Attorney General, Vincent Byron, has yet to give the Act full force,” underlines Faron. “I hope it is not something the Government intends to leave until right before the elections. The time to allow scrutiny by citizens is now, not when it is politically expedient.”