SAINT LUCIA has revoked the citizenship of a Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) investor due to his involvement in criminal activity.
Dr. Ernest Hilaire, Minister of Tourism and Investment, revealed that Junjie Su, formerly Haijin Su, had his citizenship revoked.
Following a careful review of the facts, authorities took decisive action to cancel the individual’s Saint Lucian citizenship, which had been obtained through the CIP process.
“Once the government is notified that someone has acted in a manner that is damaging to the reputation of Saint Lucia, the law empowers us to revoke that person’s citizenship,” Hilaire stated during a pre-cabinet briefing on Monday.
In the most recent development, the Saint Lucia Gazette (dated November 1, 2024) notes that “the grant of citizenship to Junjie Su, formerly known as Haijin Su, is revoked, as the Minister believes Junjie Su has committed acts that may bring Saint Lucia into disrepute.”
Junjie Su was given citizenship in 2018, and it’s worth noting that the revocation process does not provide cash compensation for individuals affected. He faced charges for his involvement in a money laundering ring, prompting the government to revoke his citizenship after formal notification of his arrest.
The Minister highlighted that this is the first time the present administration has taken such measures. According to sources, the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) revoked the citizenship of six people who had obtained nationality under the CIP during the previous government in 2018.
The names of these individuals were published in the Saint Lucia Gazette (dated March 26, 2018), which stated: “The citizenship grants for the following persons are revoked, as they have committed acts that may bring Saint Lucia into disrepute.”
In an October parliamentary statement on Saint Lucia’s CIP status, Dr. Hilaire emphasized a “40 percent increase in staff,” which strengthened the capability of the due diligence, verification, and accounts departments despite the Unit’s challenges.
Furthermore, in a parliamentary statement issued in October, the minister emphasized some of the CIP achievements, as shown in the 2022/2023 report:
– An 85 percent increase in applications received from 583 to 1076.
– Increased applications by 25% from 435 to 544. – Total assets increased by 94% to $35.58 million.
– Shareholders’ equity increased by 44% to $37.7 million.
– Revenue increased by 12% from $54.2 million to $60.6 million.
Hilaire stated: “The due diligence processes have been enhanced, resulting in a longer wait for feedback. Our key partners (banks, NIC, and immigration department) have also increased their resource allocation to manage the growing demand for their services. The processes and procedures at the Unit remain unchanged from the previous administration, except we have ceased using the Chinese due diligence firm previously engaged for citizenship application reviews.”
Dr. Hilaire went on, “The Unit conducts a comprehensive due diligence procedure for each application, utilizing respected firms from the United States and the United Kingdom. Local law enforcement, together with the JRCC-an additional layer shared by all five Caribbean CBI programs-conduct additional background checks.”
On March 20, 2024, the Prime Ministers of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). Each of the parties pledged to “increase and harmonize the minimum investment threshold of the CBIPs to an investment sum of US$200,000, effective no later than June 30, 2024.”