Wednesday, July 9, 2025

AMERICA ADMITS TO HOLDING SAINT KITTS CITIZENS PREVIOUSLY CONVICTED OF U.S. CRIMES AT GUANTANAMO; IS THE REASON THEY HAVEN'T BEEN DEPORTED THE FACT THAT THEY ARE CHINESE CBI PASSPORT HOLDERS?



The United States Government, responding to reports by CBS News, has admitted that it is detaining a number of illegal aliens who have been convicted of serious crimes in America at its Guantanamo Bay facility. Included on the list of nationalities held there are an undetermined number of citizens from Saint Kitts and Nevis. Due to privacy laws, their names have not been released.

The question we are asking is how many of these detained Kittitians are Chinese holding SKN Citizenship by Investment (CBI) passports? Tens of thousands of Chinese have been sold Saint Kitts CBI passports, and a number have been reportedly arrested in the United States for criminal activity, and for committing acts which violate the National Security law of America.

We call upon Saint Kitts Prime Minister TERRANCE DREW, who is at the epicenter of the country's CBI fraud, money laundering and corruption scandal, for allowing the sale of passports by Chinese-controlled GLOBAL GALAXY GROUP, to release the names of all Saint Kitts citizens held by the United States at Guantanamo Bay. Why weren't they simply deported directly to Basseterre? There are nonstop flights from the U.S.

SKN PM Terrance Drew


Is the Government of Saint Kitts afraid that if their constituents see the arrival of Chinese SKN passport holders, who are convicted felons involved in serious crimes, they will vote the incumbent Labour Party out of office?

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

SAINT LUCIA'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER ERNEST HILAIRE AND THE CHINESE COMPANY CARIBBEAN GALAXY SOLD OVER 48,000 ECONOMIC PASSPORTS, BUT OMIT TO TELL THE TRUTH IN PARLIAMENT



In order not to frighten his citizens, regarding his secret venture with China's Caribbean Galaxy, allow me to tell you what Minister Ernest Hilaire failed to disclose to his Parliament. Although he admitted that over 5,000 passport applications were received, he failed to admit that Galaxy already sold 6,000 applications for the hotel resort. That’s 24,000 new citizens; the fact that some of them are not yet processed is irrelevant. Galaxy has already sold these passports and collected the money abroad. Therefore, on the hotel project, the citizens of Saint Lucia should know that 24,000 new citizens will be already added to their country .

In addition, on the infrastructure project, although the legal actions of Opposition Leader Allen Chastanet has put an halt to it, forcing the government to confirm that the contract is on hold, insiders at the CIP office have confirmed that all 6,000 applications for the infrastructure projects have already been sold by Carribean Galaxy, which has collected the money. Minister Hilaire has instructed the CIP office to move ahead with processing paperwork on the 6,000 applications, but not to issue certificates of citizenship until the court matter with Chastanet is resolved. we note that another 24,000 citizens will be added, bringing the total number of new citizens to 48,000 if Chastanet fails to win in court in Saint Lucia.

Additionally, insiders within the CIP have confirmed that, although the Bemax contract was cancelled after I exposed the criminal connections of Bemax on my blog, a new structure has since been created, and Galaxy has already sold the passports for that housing project. It is my understanding that some of the initial partners of Bemax are involved and the public cancellation of the Bemax contract was merely a smoke screen, while the CIP continued to do business with the company.

Minister Hilaire's deceptive actions are well known to both the European Union and the U.S. Government, so don’t blame the messenger in giving you a heads up; Minister Hilaire is bringing his country into a sea of criminality that will have serious consequences for the people of Saint-Lucia, who have been completely placed in the dark by his omissions and misrepresentation at Parliament.

The fraudulent management of the CIP by Ernest Hilaire and Mc Claude Emmanuel have already caused the departure of Lorne Theophilus as Chairman of the CIP and the head of its legal department, Isa Cyril, both fearing for their liabilities in the fraudulent schemes perpetrated through Bank of America their correspondent bank, caused by directly by China's  Caribbean Galaxy . Unfortunately for Lorne, he signed one of the contracts with the Chinese company; More to follow.

Monday, July 7, 2025

ADDITIONAL ELEVENTH HOUR REFORMS BY CARIBBEAN CBI STATES WILL STILL BE INSUFFICIENT TO SAVE THE DAY, AND THE INVESTORS PROBABLY WON'T FOLLOW THEM ANYWAY


The Eastern Caribbean CBI states, visibly anxious to avoid both the loss of visa-free entry to the Members of the European Union, and total travel ban to the United States, added a number of proposed reforms to those in the recently proposed regulations. The problem is, they are probably insufficient to stop both the EU and the US from taking action which will not only affect the central benefits of EC passports, but deter future investors from considering them altogether.

First, they propose a minimal 30 days of actual residency over a five year period, in response to EU and US concerns. Not only is that woefully insufficient to address them, most UHNW buyers will either disregard them totally, or quietly exit their "residence" during period of occupancy, using private transportation, while continuing the fiction that they are actually living in those luxury properties during that time. They will, in essence, cheat, knowing that the CIUs, and the powerless new regulatory body will ignore their violations.

Second, this concession to require buyers learn about the culture, history, language and governance of the Caribbean state who passport they have purchased is pure nonsense. Don't expect wealthy, sophisticated (and busy) passport purchasers to take what amount to remedial courses in what amounts to basic citizenship. They will not leave their own businesses and lives to sit in such classes.

Finally, proposing annual caps on the number of CBI passports issued sounds good, but given the level of systemic corruption we have seen among the five CBI states, outright selling quantities of passports to Chinese company that vastly exceed the amount of funding needed to build minor structures on site, how can anyone trust these CIUs, and indeed the Prime Ministers of the EC states, to follow those restrictions?

These new promises, which simply will not be kept, are merely keen-jerk reactions of frightened Eastern Caribbean government leaders, who are futilely pushing back against the incoming Tsunami of an existential, external response to years of fraud, corruption and money laundering. It will not work, gentlemen.

Sunday, July 6, 2025

FACING AN EXISTENTIAL CRISIS; THE CARIBBEAN CBI STATES PROPOSE DETAILS FOR REFORM THROUGH SELF-REGULATION; TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE?


Sixteen months after five Caribbean countries that offer Citizenship by Investment (CBI/CIP) offered to create an interim regulatory commission for their industry, detailed draft legislation has been published by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, establishing an Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority. Readers unfamiliar with the details can review the draft proposal here: https://lnkd.in/euYjD9sF

A July 16, 2025 deadline has been set for the submission of public comments, and Ratification of any final version of the Agreement, as and if amended, is required by all the CBI states. We note that the Government of Saint Lucia delayed placing its signature on the original Memorandum of Agreement for several months, and there is no indication that any deadline exists for Ratification by the respective states, meaning that any effective date, after all negotiation of the provisions has been agreed to, could be substantially delayed.

Given that such regulatory reform is being considered in the face of what could be considered existential threats to what is understood to be the primary benefit of CBI programs, visa-free entry to the European Union, and direct action, by the United States, to block all visa entry into America of citizens from four of the EC CBI states, we ask whether the proposal is not being made in Good Faith, and only as a half-hearted belated effort now to respond to external action, coming years too late to block accountability for program administration failures, and threats to the National Security of other jurisdictions, has been raised. Additionally, whether there will actually be bona fide international enforcement of the regulatory authority's provisions, in states with rampant corruption, a long history of allowing money laundering activities, and being under undue foreign influence, is a major concern.

Whether the actions of external forces render these proposals moot we cannot say, but unfolding events in the international arena will soon have a direct, and most likely adverse, effect on the second passport industry as a whole, which Caribbean states' efforts may be unable to adequately respond to, and which may be existential in nature. We will be monitoring the situation, and will be reporting on al developments as they occur.

Saturday, July 5, 2025

IT'S NOW TIME TO REDLINE ALL BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS COMPANIES, AFTER BWI GOVERNMENT INTENTIONALLY VIOLATES UK BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP DISCLOSURE DEADLINE

                           

The arrogant locally autonomous leadership of the British Virgin Islands has breached the deadline imposed by the United Kingdom to make its corporate database publicly accessible. Apparently BVI, still smarting from the US conviction of its Premier, ANDREW FAHIE, thinks that the UK Parliament will not pass an Order in Council, forcing its Overseas Territory to discard the opacity which it uses to attract corrupt PEPs, money launderers and other transnational criminals to its financial service providers. Company formation is a highly lucrative endeavour that the BVI will continue to use, in the absence of Parliament asserting its power.

I have lost all patience with any offshore tax haven that runs arriving investigative journalists out of town as soon as they arrive, before they can even begin to ask the hard questions. My advice to compliance officers whose bank client proffer a BVI company at account opening, or during transaction monitoring, is to redline the entire matter as too high risk to complete. Do you really want to get a visit from law enforcement, armed with a subpoena from a pending money laundering investigation, dropped in your face? I doubt it. Redline all the bloody BVI companies you encounter in the future, and cite the failure to be be transparent, and yours truly, as the reason you document to your superiors; And do not back down.

Friday, July 4, 2025

SEIZURE OF USD$3.8m IN COCAINE IN SAINT LUCIA CONFIRMS ITS ROLE AS AN EMERGING MAJOR TRANSIT POINT FOR ILLEGAL DRUGS BOUND FOR THE UNITED STATES

                               


On May 28, 2025, the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force seized a shipment of nearly 200 kilograms of kilo-sized cocaine bricks, which it has since conservatively estimated as having a street value of USD$3.8 million. A seizure of this size, obviously en route to North America, and far above what the population of this small Caribbean state could ever consume, confirms that Saint Lucia, with a growing organized crime problem, has now become a major transit hub for Colombian cocaine.

While most compliance officers are currently focused on money laundering issues involving US Dollar payments by dodgy applicants for the country's Chinese-dominated Citizenship by Investment (CIP) program, payments connected with cocaine shipments pose a new and dangerous threat to the major American financial institutions that offer correspondent banking services to Saint Lucia's indigenous banks. Transhipment of large quantities of narcotics often involves successive covert shipping operations, requiring advance payment in full, which can entail local Caribbean banks being called upon to either produce bulk cash by customers, or to accept large amounts of bulk cash delivered by purchasers or new shippers taking possession.



Given the extremely small list of American financial institutions offering correspondent banking services to Saint Lucia, we are wondering whether those few banks have been adequately screening for narcotics-related financial transactions, or if compliance officers at those US banks are erroneously assuming that large cash deposits, and resulting international funds transfers are CIP payments especially the Miami offices of those American banks, which appear to have frontline responsibility for the respective correspondent accounts. Being complicit in the unwitting facilitation of multi-million narco-payments, with the result that it draws the unwanted attention of Drug Enforcement Administration investigators, is definitely something those compliance officers would not welcome. perhaps they should now look at Saint Lucia as a jurisdiction of increased Country Risk.




Thursday, July 3, 2025

RAISE COUNTRY RISK ON ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA DUE TO GASTON BROWNE §1782 CASE


This week's filing of a Notice of Appeal against Antigua Prime Minister GASTON BROWNE, from the decision in the §1782 Antigua corruption Discovery application proceeding, is a direct attack upon Browne, and his corrupt management of his country. The intent of the appeal, filed by a Russian billionaire, is obviously to publicly reveal the extent of Browne's corruption, and that of his immediate family, political associates, and other Politically Exposed Persons linkedit him. The case will serve to showcase the rampant corruption that has infected Antigua, of the ruling Antigua & Barbuda Labour Party, which forces foreign investors and businessmen to pay obscene bribes and kickbacks to government officials. The fact that Browne is having the Antiguan Treasury pay six and seven figure legal fees in what is surely a personal matter is evidence of serious misconduct and malfeasance in office.


Therefore, given that the case will continue to expose the continued financial and legal mistreatment of foreign nationals, committed out by the Browne government, it is prudent to raise Country Risk on Antigua & Barbuda at this time. Compliance officers at international banks whose customers are engaged in, or intend to engage in, investments or commercial transactions, and who are tasked with the assessment of Country Risk, are urged to consider reevaluating Antigua at this time. Prospective investors are cautioned to secure enhanced due diligence before transferring any sums into Antigua, until and to seek the counsel of their financial or legal advisors if they have already funded projects there. Govern yourselves accordingly.

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

ACQUIRING A SECOND PASSPORT THROUGH CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT? RETAIN AN EXPERIENCED COMPLIANCE OFFICER TO GUIDE YOU TO AVOID THE PITFALLS


I am constantly amazed at how many wealthy individuals purchase a Citizenship by Investment (CBI/CIP) without retaining outside advice. They rely upon the slick sales pitch of the consultancy offering the programs; most investors don't buy anything without their trusted lawyer, but when it comes to CBI, they believe the "legal specialist" at the company marketing to them, who is not a practising attorney, and definitely not one admitted in the jurisdiction where they are paying six figures for a passport. Not a good idea, when it comes to effective personal risk management.

In my humble opinion, if you have your heart set on a second passport, first find an experienced compliance officer to check out the specific product recommended by the consultant. Is the CIU program in the jurisdiction involved in litigation; is it under attack for corruption, or any other type of criminal conduct; is its valuable visa-free access to the EU and UK endangered; does it have a history of illegal discounted sales, or revocation of citizenship and passports; all the issues in 2025 that could make your investment evaporate, or become useless. The review is essentially a due diligence inquiry into the product you are thinking of purchasing.

Next, assuming that the specific jurisdiction passes compliance scrutiny, it is time to review the contract itself. Given that you will probably now be wise enough to secure the professional services of an attorney with contract experience, take it one step further, and have your lawyer, after he reviews the purchase documents, secure an opinion letter attesting to his findings, signed by a lawyer in the country that is selling you the citizenship. Lawyers, who have licenses to protect, and don't want to be sued for malpractice, should confirm your own lawyer's findings in writing, for your protection.

Only then should you wire those six figures, making sure that they are going directly into the CBI agency's escrow or trust account, in the country that will issue the citizenship & passport. There are charlatans everywhere in the investment migration industry, so have your personal attorney handle the payments.

Contrary to popular belief, I support legitimately run CBI programs, that maintain effective due diligence programs for gatekeeping, are free from corruption, and deliver what their vendors promise. Use this guide to minimize risk, and maximize the chance that you will be happy with the outcome, both now, and in the fu

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

NOTICE OF APPEAL FILED IN GASTON BROWNE ANTIGUA CORRUPTION CASE


As we have predicted, a Notice of Appeal to the Eleventh Circuit has now been filed from what is referred to in the pleadings as the GASTON BROWNE ANTIGUA CORRUPTION APPLICATION, the §1782 Discovery application filed on behalf of the claimant who alleges that Browne, the sitting Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, diverted ten million US Dollars from an illegal sale of a seized yacht to his personal use, and ordered the unauthorized destruction of official records kept in the administrative proceeding.

PM Browne's disinformation campaign, wherein he repeatedly advised his constituents that the Discovery case was over, and any information to the contrary was "fake news" has now been itself proven to be false and misleading. Did he really think that one of best law firms in the United States would drop the ball?

Some of the Subpoenaed records were produced before the District Judge granted a subsequent Motion to Quash; they are being held pending the resolution of the case. We shall continue to monitor the proceedings, and report back to our readers on all developments as they occur. An extract from the court docket appears below. Case No.: 1:25-mc-00098 ( SDNY).



Monday, June 30, 2025

WILL GRENADA JOIN ST. KITTS, ST. LUCIA, ANTIGUA & DOMINICA ON THE US STATE DEPARTMENT VISA BLACKLIST?

Rumours are flying, concerning the status of Grenada, the sole Eastern Caribbean state with a Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program that was NOT originally named as among those jurisdictions which the United States intends to blacklist for visa purposes, leaning that West Indians from those countries will not be able to secure a visa of any kind to enter America.

Observers of the Caribbean political scene, who have noted the obscene number of Grenada CBI passports handed out to Chinese applicants, the close relationship between the Grenada PM and the leader of the People's Republic of China, and the failure of the country's CIU to publicly sanction CBI fraudster companies, their sub-agents and passport holders, believe that the failure to name Grenada to the Bad Actor list was merely an administrative oversight at the State Department, and action will be taken against it.

What effect such an action will have on Grenada's prized US E-2 visa access program is unknown; will it simply be cancelled? We cannot say, but one thing is certain; senior government officials in Georgetown are suffering from fear and loathing, dreading the potential loss of the only special advantage that their country has over the CBI competition for clients in the Caribbean.

Sunday, June 29, 2025

SAINT LUCIA WELCOMES A NIGERIAN MONEY LAUNDERER ON AN OFFICIAL STATE VISIT: WHY DID THEY CLOSE THE AIRPORT FOR HIS ARRIVAL?


BOLA AHMAD TINUBU is the President of Nigeria; but in 1993, before he came into office, he cut a deal with the United States that resulted in the forfeiture of USD$460,000, amid allegations by American law enforcement that he controlled a bank account in Chicago which was used to launder heroin profits. The DEA has repeatedly objected to the release of any additional information about him, raising questions about his level of cooperation in the sordid world of money laundering for narcotics traffickers.

This man, who is now the president of what is one of the most corrupt countries in Africa, recently made what has been described in local Caribbean media as an official state visit to beleaguered Saint Lucia, reportedly organized by Deputy Prime Minister ERNEST HILAIRE, himself alleged to be the ringleader in a multi-billion dollar racketeering scheme of fraud, money laundering and corruption involving the Chinese company, CARIBBEAN GALAXY GROUP.

Tinubu's visit, which has curiously been totally ignored by global media,has raised serious questions regarding its true purpose, as, aside from the sale of Saint Lucia passports to dodgy Nigerians, the two countries essentially have no relationship, raising the presumption that the Nigerian president may be looking for a "safe" ( i.e. non-extradition) jurisdiction to relocate to after he leaves office.





Alternatively, whether Tinubu is contemplating placing some of his personal fortune out of the reach of Nigerian anti-corruption courts has come up in conversation. Was the fact that Saint Lucia's government ordered Hewanorra International Airport closed for his arrival a cover for the covert transfer of illicit wealth, and will there be other flights? We note that Saint Lucia's organized crime gangs are no stranger to cocaine trafficking.

The visit of such a high-profile, and controversial, African political figure, with a dark money laundering past is obviously not for the purposes of international cooperation; we will be closely following further developments in the new and unexplained role of an African leader in the Caribbean, as we do with any Politically Exposed Person traveling abroad who has disturbing baggage.