Website issues apology over false citizenship by investment story

The government in St Kitts and Nevis has accepted an apology after a news website published an article suggesting the prime minister was looking to end the citizenship by investment programme.

SKNVibes also retracted the 16 May story, which ran with the headline 'Alternatives to CBI Programme may be imperative.

A source in the office of Prime Minister Timothy Harris yesterday told WIC News that "false stories" had spread after a recent speech from the PM was repeatedly misquoted.

Words were removed from the sentence which changed the context, they added.

In a statement, the government said it "reaffirms its commitment to strengthening the citizenship by investment (CBI) programme and to deliver a platinum standard to its agents, developers and applicants".

There are a number of reforms already implemented and the government would continue to improve due diligence.

'Advance every option'

As well as making clear that the Harris administration is committed to the CBI programme, the government stated it is committed to growing the economy across the spectrum.

"The government would continue efforts to diversify the economy and strengthen all the growth pillars to ensure that there is no over-reliance on any single sector or entity as an engine of growth," it added.

"The government cannot revert to a monoculture economy, therefore its strategy is one of a multi-pronged approach, comprising the tourism sector including medical and educational tourism, agriculture, financial services, CBI, manufacturing, renewable energy and any others that the government deems necessary for the growth and resilience of the federation."