After ERNEST HILAIRE, the minister in charge of oversight of Saint Lucia's Citizenship by Investment (CIP) passport sales program, flat out refused to disclose the details of missing revenue from sales of passports, amount to a billion US Dollars or more, the United Workers Party (UWP) has demanded, in an open letter to SLC PM PHILIP PIERRE, that he completely reform the program, and relieve the Minister for Investments, Deputy Prime Minister ERNEST HILAIRE for misconduct, forthwith.
The letter's primary complaint is spelled out early on:
"Dear Prime Minister Pierre... The situation with the CIP is particularly egregious. Newly leaked contracts reveal that over 5,000 Saint Lucian passports, valued at US$1 billion, have been allocated under the Galaxy arrangement. Alarmingly, US$600 million of this amount remains unaccounted for, raising serious concerns about transparency and accountability. Additionally, Bemax—a company contracted to construct 66 low-income houses for US$62 million—has been linked to criminal activity, with its principal recently arrested as part of a major organized crime investigation."
The UWP has demanded, in the letter, that the PM, who has been accused of failing to exercise any leadership in the matter, take the following steps immediately:
"1. Dismissal of the CEO of the CIP Programme for failing to uphold the integrity of the programme.
2. Replacement of the CIP Board to restore public confidence.
3. Removal of the Minister responsible for the CIP portfolio to ensure impartial oversight moving forward.
4. An independent investigation, spearheaded by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Auditor General, to uncover the full extent of the mismanagement.
5. Suspension of any further issuance of citizenships related to Galaxy and infrastructure investment until the investigation is completed."
DPM Hilaire, who claimed that to disclose details of the Galaxy transactions would require company approval, as it is privileged information, and then failed to secure that permission, is alleged to have collected millions of dollars, in bribes and kickbacks, from the company, and that is why he is stonewalling his constituents about the missing billion; public calls for his resignation are known to be increasing, amid multiple allegations of fraud, money laundering and corruption.Whether Prime Minister Pierre takes prompt action will most certainly have an effect on the Saint Lucia Labour Party's chances of remaining in power.
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