ST KITTS & NEVIS – Government has revoked the citizenship of 13 individuals and their dependents after a national investigation found they had failed to meet the statutory investment requirements of the country’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme.
The revocations follow a detailed probe conducted by the Ministry of National Security, Immigration and Citizenship. Authorities found that the individuals misrepresented their investment status in official applications and failed to take corrective action when contacted.
Out of 158 individuals contacted during the review:
- 32 settled their outstanding investment balances
- 13 admitted to non-payment but did not rectify it
- 1 requested a Commission of Inquiry hearing
- Others remain in dialogue with the ministry
The action was taken under Sections 8 and 10 of the Citizenship Act on grounds of false representation, willful concealment of material facts, and in the public interest.
Alongside these revocations, the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) has blacklisted two International Marketing Agents – Latitude Consultancy and RIF Trust – for promoting discounted investment options below the legal threshold and misleading applicants. Both firms are now permanently barred from participating in any aspect of the programme.
“Clients of both companies confirmed receiving false assurances of ‘special discounts’,” a government release stated.
In a further move to strengthen the integrity of the CBI framework, the government has also terminated its investment agreement with MSR Media SKN Ltd and MSR Hotels & Co. Ltd. The companies were found to have breached several contractual obligations, including:
- Failing to renovate and operate key tourism properties,
- Failing to employ agreed numbers of local citizens,
- Failing to deliver promised film projects.
Officials say the termination was also prompted by an international smear campaign allegedly launched by MSR principals, who made unsubstantiated allegations against government officials.
The government reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy toward abuse of the CBI programme and said it “remains resolute in enforcing its regulations to ensure that only credible, compliant investors benefit from citizenship of Saint Kitts and Nevis”.
