Minister for Foreign Affairs Mark Brantley has recently attracted praise for his efforts in raising the profile of St Kitts and Nevis’ Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme. Over the past four years, Minister Brantley’s work has benefitted St Kitts and Nevis economic citizens and local residents alike. He ensures the Programme retains its reputation of integrity and developing diplomatic relations.
For almost four decades, St Kitts and Nevis’ CBI Programme has offered second citizenship to businesspersons worldwide. Applicants, with or without dependent family members in tow, seek to invest in a national development fund, named the Sustainable Growth Fund (SGF). Created by Prime Minister Timothy Harris, the SGF is the newest investment channel under CBI and is said to be the most straightforward route to St Kitts and Nevis citizenship. SGF funds aim to support local education, healthcare, housing, etc., whilst each application goes through several levels of due diligence. This high level of security has garnered industry recognition and reinforced St Kitts and Nevis’ reputation for integrity.
Recently, when hosting a meet and greet in Dubai, Minister Brantley addressed potential concerns surrounding the Programme. Such concerns stemmed from claims of a few agents misrepresenting, and potentially forging Government letters, under the Programme’s real estate option. Minister Brantley reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to the Programme’s high standards, whilst Attorney-General Vincent Byron disclosed that a full police investigation into the matter is underway. Of particular note was the fact that the alleged forgery comprises less than 0.01% of all national, annual business. In addition to benefitting CBI applicants, such efforts have resulted in praise for the Minister. For example, through the Dubai conference, Minister Brantley renewed the confidence of agents and applicants in the Programme.
Besides his work for CBI, Minister Brantley’s achievements often receive public approval. Since 2015, he has forged diplomatic relations and obtained visa-free travel agreements with 30 new countries. At local level, news surfaced last week indicating that Minister Brantley’s long-term project ‘Pinney’s Park’ is to finish this summer. The 14-acre park, situated in Nevis, is expected to offer family attractions including a pool and a coconut grove, and present an additional attraction for tourists.