As a concerned citizen of Saint Lucia, I cannot stay silent while our country’s resources are mismanaged, our laws are blatantly ignored, and our future is put at risk for the benefit of a few. That is why I stand firmly in support of Hon. Allen Chastanet’s legal battle to protect the integrity of our Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) and, by extension, the future of this nation.
This case is not about politics, it is about principle. It is about ensuring that the sale of our passports is done legally, transparently, and in a way that truly benefits Saint Lucians. Under the last administration, revenue from CIP was used to open the Owen King EU Hospital, start construction on the new St. Jude Hospital, repair schools, pay citizens whose land was acquired, support banana farmers, and rebuild our roads. Every dollar was accounted for.
Now, what do we have? A government that has given away thousands of passports at illegally discounted rates, a government that has allowed developers like Galaxy and Bemax to profit while Saint Lucians struggle, a government that is willing to break the law just to push through shady deals. The numbers don’t lie:
5,000 passports handed to Galaxy; enough to clear our national debt.
$65 million USD in passports given to Bemax for just 66 housesat USD$1 million per house!
Passports being sold for as low as USD 65,000, breaking the law while robbing our nation of revenue.
Where is the accountability? Where is the transparency? Where is the respect for the people of Saint Lucia?
The injunction filed by Hon. Chastanet is not to stop the CIP altogether, but to stop the corruption happening within it. Applicants can still apply to the National Economic Fund (NEF), where their investments actually reach the government and benefit the country. The only thing this legal battle seeks to stop is the reckless abuse of our nation’s most valuable asset, our citizenship.
Saint Lucia belongs to all of us, not just a select few who think they can exploit our resources in the dark. I commend Hon. Chastanet for having the courage to take a stand when others remain silent. This is about fighting for fairness, justice, and the future of every Saint Lucian.
If we don’t demand accountability now, what will be left for our children?
Why is Richard Frederick so afraid for his Life?
As if the events leading up to IMPACS, and its expensive consequences, had not done enough harm to the image of Saint Lucia world-wide, a most frightening prospect now further threatens our crime-besieged nation. If a video clip on the internet, featuring Central Castries MP Richard Frederick, is anything to go by, then a new day has dawned for our…
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by Content Manager