- “Will there be a CBI programme in three months?”, a Washington CBI expert inquired
- RICO lawsuit in US Federal court can accede into a criminal lawsuit
- “From now on – no questions – no answers,” says Prime Minister Philip J Pierre
- St Lucia signs Caribbean CBI countries MOA
By Caribbean News Global 
RODNEY BAY, St Lucia – There are three constants to Saint Lucia’s Citizenship by Investment (CIP) in the soap opera performed by tangled characters and melodramatic drama that conflates issues; – the soap opera sale of Saint Lucian passports – the number of passports sold and revenue is a hidden arithmetic equation – the political and economic promise of governance that has descended to a personality complex, far removed from the pertinent matter of the CBI programme.
It all started with MSR Media’s campaign to end corruption in the Caribbean countries’ CBI programme and the subsequent filing of the RICO lawsuit in US Federal court.
St Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia have been prominently featured throughout this Odile. The Caribbean countries’ CBI programme has attracted the eyes and spotlight of international agencies and media coverage since MSR Media’s actions in April 2024.
Subsequent invitations to review documents and recordings, in the purview of MSR Media and certain US authorities, were repudiated by Saint Lucia. The personality complex, political and governance response to being implicated in the RICO lawsuit, descended into scorched earth, resulting in global analysis.
Subsequent statements and denials issued help to provide wings to Saint Lucia’s CBI soap opera, which now threatens all five Caribbean countries’ CBI programmes.
“Things are going to get worse by the day if denials and cover-ups continue as a defence mechanism,” says a Washington insider with knowledge of RICO and criminal lawsuits.
Will there be a CBI programme in three months?
The Caribbean countries’ CBI meeting in Dominica last week, where all leaders of countries in the region were in attendance, used a high-stakes funeral as cover, perhaps signalling the pending burial of the CBI programme.
“Will there be a CBI programme in three months?” a Washington, CBI expert inquired. “The current CBI RICO lawsuit is globalized, irrespective of regional understanding of the consequences.”
St Lucia implicated in CBI RICO lawsuit filed in US Federal Court
Saint Lucia’s CBI programme is yet to understand that they have a global crisis at hand. The recitals to self-assurance and personality complex signal – that there is no crisis – while the who’s who of the Saint Lucian society and ostensibly, the CIP programme, discerning that – the game is over – retreat to Washington and counterparts pleading “ leave me out of this … I am not involved.”
There is little understanding of the political, the legal framework, CIP business and personal assignment on what prompted the CEO of CIP St Lucia, Mc Claude Emmanuel to present himself to the claimant in the RICO lawsuit, without legal representation, and ostensible, not approved by his chain of command.
And yet, there is no remedy to this accomplishment, despite rumblings and “domestic canaries in closed circles.”
June 10, 2024
Statement by the Chief Executive Officer of the Citizenship by Investment Unit – Statement from Saint Lucia CIP CEO 2
Mc Claude Emmanuel, ‘surprise’ journey to Washington, DC, is described as “a gift to the claimant, and who else he may have visited,” if the summations are accurate in bringing the truth to light!
The probable upgrade of co-conspirators to the status of defendant in a RICO lawsuit is extraordinary. Matters that arise to such are material evidence, and based on direct/first-hand factors admissible in court. Other matters of importance to the claimant and US legal agents focus on in-consistency, revision of statements, recordings, new information and offerings are cherished gifts – manifest without legal representation.
According to Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, the CEO of CIP St Lucia, Mc Claude Emmanuel’s journey to Washington was a ‘private matter the government has nothing to do with that’ […].
Experience analysts and governance experts disagree, stating:
“This is extraordinary in legal terms, and more complex, the sequence of political machinations, and the actions of competence to attain resolution is pathetic.”
“Finding adequate answers to these [un]certainties – if played out in US Federal court, hitherto is perceived catastrophic to Saint Lucia and Caribbean CBI. However, in the interest of time, general elections in Saint Lucia is no later than 2026, and presumable, revenue from the sale of passports and infrastructure options revenue would be in circulation, perhaps?”
Either way, these are not in the best interest of Saint Lucia, considering the pace at which Saint Lucia’s CIP soap opera is unfolding.
From civil to criminal
The said practice of media censorship, bullying, intimidation, and threats to carry the ‘good news’ stories of any government stands covertly to democracy, transparently, accountability and trust.
The current RICO lawsuit in US Federal court is said to include more defendants, as previously announced by MSR Media.
Furthermore, intelligence analysts point to the real consideration and inclusion of the “who’s who” of the Saint Lucian society and ostensibly, the CIP programme to ongoing matters.
“The civil lawsuit has a very strong possibility to accede to a criminal matter,” says two sources, not authorized to publicly comment on the matter, “as more commercial transactions and recorded data is being complied.” Should that threshold be reached in the coming weeks, according to sources, “it changes the entire soap opera between facts and falsehood.”
Prime Minister Pierre is well advised not to provide direct answers to questions about the RICO lawsuit and ‘subsequent matters’ that may arise, albeit, CIP reports are mandated by statute. However, there’s a skilful difference that applies in response to inquiries and questions per the record, statements and recordings by government officials and external authorities.
“There is a RICO case in US courts, a civil matter, let’s wait for it, says Prime Minister Pierre, responding to reporters’ questions, June 17, 2024, during a pre-cabinet press briefing.
“The issues that surround Saint Lucia’s CIP are speculations and accusations,” the prime minister emphasised. “From now on – no questions – no answers.”
The prime minister continued, “My responsibility and the government is to ensure there are rigorous due diligence processes to limit and even eliminate bad actors,” adding, “We will see if the CIP program will benefit the people directly and not allow the taxpayers to lose money because of bad deals, it has happened.”
The hidden arithmetic equation
Saint Lucia’s housing, and infrastructure projects announcements in the budget 2024/2025 are predicated on CIP revenue and the infrastructure option – a secret until recently unveiled. However, if the flow of CIP revenue is curtailed and more correspondent banking issues kick-in – it is likely that more white elephants will be patterned in the landscape of Saint Lucia.
The political and economic promise to ‘Putting People First’ (certain people) irrespective of global speculations and accusations at this point, signals new international agencies’ and governments’ designations.
Therefore, it warrants from the point of origin, the next steps since “ we have no business with Philippe Martinez,” says the government of Saint Lucia; and to understand; Has the CIP chairman resigned? and likewise, if the government of Saint Lucia is open to resolution. Further points of exploration include Saint Lucia’s decision to sign the MOA, a belated decision that may be of little relevance at this point of the CIP roller coaster.
Where’s the money from passport sales?
There are outstanding matters of reference to the alleged number of assigned passports and accountability. Revenue details of CIP infrastructure options, and Saint Lucia’s 2024/2025 budget allocations, are also of relevance.
CIP minister Ernest Hilaire in his statement in defence of Saint Lucia’s CIP programme did not contradict MSR Media’s claims of application and units. Information that recordings and documents may very well confirm at the right time. However, Hilaire performed little to “account for the sale of Saint Lucia’s passports, and what it equates to in dollars and sense.”
According to Hilaire: “That money is paid into an escrow account which is the developer’s money and not the government of Saint Lucia” […] and “the due diligence process undertaken on each applicant is rigorous.”
Collectively, the nuance to the hidden arithmetic equation conceivably validates the soap opera that CIP Saint Lucia is experiencing.
St Lucia is on life support
There is an economic promise to be made across generations. But putting Saint Lucia’s passports on auction and the unnecessary negative security exposure to Saint Lucian citizenship holds historic lessons and future international teething troubles. Furthermore, political conflict, selfishness, and economic greed have led to zero-sum thinking in the history of Saint Lucia.
Can the political and governance retort: “Will there be a CBI programme in three months?”
Saint Lucia has a new minister with responsibility for home affairs and oversight for citizenship, and the Bordelais Correctional Facility (BCF).
Given the volume of Saint Lucian passport sales and corresponding new citizens, and that the BCF is overcrowded – a mess unto itself – new infrastructure is necessary. Construction of custody suits, police stations and headquarters, and the Halls of Justice are proceeding according to plans.
The statistics will convey that it is credibly fitting for a new jail to be built in Saint Lucia. A very big jail, to be locally termed – the 40-star hotel, 2.0 – for novel equivalent inmates.
