SAINT LUCIA'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER HILAIRE CLAIMS IGNORANCE AFTER ORGANIZED CRIME LINKS BECOME PUBLIC; IT LOOK LIKE THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR HIM

Deputy PM Ernest Hilaire

ERNEST HILAIRE, Saint Lucia's Deputy Prime Minister, and the minister with the sole responsibility for the country's Citizenship by Investment (CIP) program, attempted to claim this week that he was "not aware" that the owner of a principal CIP contractor had been arrested in Europe several months ago on organized crime charges, but his statements lacked any credibility when the facts are presented. Hilaire alleged that he did not know the reputed Eastern European organized crime figure, ALEKSANDER MIJAJLOVIC, the owner of BEMAX, which is the contractor for the Rock Hall Housing Development Project, an Infrastructure project of the CIP, was arrested, notwithstanding that Mijajlovic, who partners with the Government in the project, was represented by Hilaire's close personal friend, local attorney THADDEUS ANTOINE. Furthermore, when questioned by local Saint Lucia media, he was evasive and not forthcoming in his answers, which were inconsistent with the truth. He obviously cannot keep track of his lies.

We ask how Bemax was approved in the first place by the CIU, given that any simple due diligence Google search would have uncovered Mijajlovic's and Bemax's known criminal history by the CIU's Risk Profiler, PHILICIA PIERRE, who is the daughter of Prime Minister PHILIP PIERRE. Hilaire, as the supervisor of the CIU would have been given that important knowledge by her personally. Additionally, she would most certainly have learned of his subsequent Spring 2024 arrest. His denials therefore cannot be accepted as true. Therefore, he was warned at least twice that Bemax was unqualified due to known criminal associations.

Hilaire also told local media that the contract with Bemax was signed two years ago, but the Infrastructure Project did not exist in September, 2022. Obviously, he has been informed of the news of the arrests, the appointment of a Special Prosecutor in Europe, after it was reported that contraband traced to Bemax was seized by Customs, and that five police officers were arrested. We know that because the recent Gazette publication granting approval to the Rock Hall Project, was deliberately backdated to January, 2024, one month prior to Majijlovic's arrest. He intentionally provided for January 2024 approval, as he was obviously aware that it had occurred, and he was attempting to preempt any objections to Bemax by constituents.

Hilaire's position as DPM was already under attack, after he delayed for two months to disclose to the public the details of the thousands of citizenship files given to CARIBBEAN GALAXY REAL ESTATE LIMITED, claiming, without any grounds, that such information constitute business secrets which can only be released by Galaxy. This is a government contract, and it must be fully transparent by law. Since after two months he has failed to secure that purportedly "required' permission, he should be removed from his position without delay, due to Malfeasance in Office. Furthermore, the relationship between Aleksandar Mijajlovic, DPM Hilaire, Attorney Antoine and Housing Minister Frederick, should be the subject of a comprehensive criminal investigation by INTERPOL, to be initiated forthwith.