St.Kitts-Nevis halts citizenship sales to Iranians, Afghans

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 21:01 by GxMedia

St. Kitts and Nevis has suspended Iranian and Afghanistan nationals from participating in the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Programme, Prime Minister Denzil Douglas has announced.

“I now advise of the Government’s decision to suspend with immediate effect, participation of all Iranian Nationals in our Federation’s Citizenship by Investment Programme. This is regardless of their countries of residence. We advise also of a similar decision to suspend all Afghanistan Nationals from participating in the Programme,” Douglas was quoted as saying in a government statement.

He said the action is one in a series of several in support of his Government’s efforts to undertake further comprehensive reviews of the Programme with the primary objective being to safeguard its integrity whilst at the same time actively contributing to the prevention of transnational organised crime and/or other illicit acts which threaten the safety and security of the global citizenry the vast majority of whom continue to embrace and pursue peace and security,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

Last September 14th in a statement in the National Assembly, signalling St Kitts and Nevis’ support of the decision taken by Canada to suspend diplomatic relations with Iran, Prime Minister Douglas advised of his government’s own efforts to review the Federation’s Citizenship by Investment Programme, specific to the further participation of Iranian Nationals.

It was in consistent with that commitment and recognising the Federation’s obligations to continue supporting the various United Nations Security Council’s Resolutions, namely 1737 (2006), 1803 (2008) and 1929 (2010).

“The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis being mindful of our obligations have taken several concrete measures to address deficiencies previously identified but we are nonetheless cognisant of need to effect further improvements to the Programme. The Government of St Kitts and Nevis therefore welcomes the opportunities for closer collaboration and cooperation with our traditional friendly partners in the International Community; specifically through their provision of the requisite technical and/or other expertise to assist in our efforts to promote a Citizenship by Investment Programme appropriately grounded in our own domestic legal framework and the relevant ones accepted globally,” said the St. Kitts and Nevis leader.

Prime Minister Douglas said the Government is confident that its efforts to further enhance the Federation’s Citizenship by Investment Programme “will be supported so that it continues to meet our policy imperative of transforming the lives of citizens and residents of St. Kitts and Nevis; but not in deference to, nor neglect of our obligations as a responsible member of the global community of Nations to contribute to peace, safety and security.”