In response to Opposition Leader Allen Chastanet’s lawsuit against the Government of Saint Lucia regarding the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP), Minister of Tourism and Investment Dr. Ernest Hilaire firmly stated that Saint Lucia’s CIP will remain a model of integrity in due diligence and other essential aspects relating to it.
Addressing recent comments in the Associated Press about Saint Lucia’s CIP, Dr. Hilaire, at a press briefing Monday, affirmed that he would confront these challenges during the parliamentary session scheduled for Tuesday, February 24, specifically addressing Chastanet’s baseless allegations against the CIP.
Dr. Hilaire pointed out a persistent ‘personal vendetta’ from Allen Chastanet towards him, as well as animosity towards Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre. However, he emphasized that this time he has crossed a line, grasping at straws in a desperate attempt to tarnish Saint Lucia’s reputation on a global scale.
“What’s alarming in this latest filing is that Chastanet’s affidavit and public statements aim to inflict suffering on Saint Lucia,” the minister asserted at a recent media briefing. “His actions are designed to destroy our nation’s image.”
Dr. Hilaire elaborated, “Chastanet has taken material from others, filing claims against us while disseminating this misinformation worldwide.”
He continued, “He is asking the court to halt vital infrastructure projects, including the Galaxy Project, and to revoke all citizenships granted.”
The Minister posed a critical question: “Why would he want to do that? This creates unnecessary anxiety among current and potential citizens (investors) regarding the stability of their status, which undermines trust in Saint Lucia. This is about damaging our nation’s reputation.”
Last May, the Saint Lucia Government responded decisively to Philippe Martinez’s lawsuit, stating they had ‘No Business with Philippe Martinez.’ The Government’s Citizenship by Investment Unit addressed allegations made against several individuals, including former Prime Ministers of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Timothy Harris and Denzil Douglas, in a separate lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida relating to the management of the CIP in Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Moreover, IM Global Wealth reported that Martinez planned to present documents from concerned citizens in Saint Lucia in the U.S. Federal Court. These documents, alongwith recordings involving Mc Claude Emmanuel and a senior member of the Saint Lucia government, aimed to provide further context about the Galaxy situation in Saint Lucia.
The Government of Saint Lucia reiterated its lack of involvement in the management of CIP in Saint Kitts and Nevis, clarifying that Mc Claude Emmanuel, CEO of the Saint Lucia CIP Unit, is solely accountable for the effective administration of Saint Lucia’s CIP according to local laws.
The government also provided a timeline detailing Caribbean Galaxy Real Estate Limited’s operations in Saint Lucia, noting that the company initially agreed with the country in March 2018 under the previous United Workers Party (UWP) administration. The first CIP Real Estate Project, the Canelles Project, began construction in 2019. Recognizing delays, the current administration compelled Caribbean Galaxy to expedite progress in November 2021.
The Canelles Resort project has since sold all shares and is no longer an active real estate option, with completion anticipated by the end of 2025.
Furthermore, the government stressed its firm position against discounting or underpricing citizenship. It stated unequivocally that all successful applicants must pay the full, legislated investment amount.
The inclusion of Saint Lucia’s CIP in Martinez’s lawsuit is viewed as an attempt to draw Saint Lucia into a dispute that does not concern it.
In December, despite promising “explosive” evidence of corruption and fraud within regional CIP regimes, Philippe Martinez and MSR Media withdrew their U.S.-based lawsuit. Dr. Hilaire, previously identified as a person of interest, expressed that the withdrawal was expected, as the claims had no foundation. He underscored that Martinez’s decision to retract his allegations was a clear indication of his lack of evidence, which were “all fabricated, baseless, and malicious.”
During a parliamentary sitting on Tuesday, the Tourism and Investment Minister firmly addressed legislators regarding the ongoing lawsuit by Opposition Leader Chastanet against the government.
Dr. Hilaire asserted that Allen Chastanet failed to serve him with necessary legal documents, demonstrating a “malicious attempt” to secure an immediate injunction against the Citizenship by Investment Program (CIP) without allowing a fair opportunity for response to his baseless allegations. The minister said, the court rightly determined there was nothing urgent about this matter and instructed him to serve his claim properly.
Dr Hilaire emphasized that the opposition leader’s primary objective was to halt Saint Lucia’s progress. He pointed out that Chastanet left a legacy of debt and high unemployment and termed him “a miserable failure” during his five-and-a-half-year term in office.
Dr Hilaire accused him of trying to sabotage Saint Lucia’s foreign investment portfolio purely out of bitterness from losing power. He condemned these “unfounded claims” from the opposition, arguing they have led to a reduction in revenue for the country and are aimed at harming Saint Lucia and its citizens.
The investment minister labeled the filing of this case as a “nasty and ruthless attack” on Saint Lucia and its future development. He reiterated that, as a consequence, the government has had to delay critical road infrastructure projects but remains committed to pursuing them despite opposition failures.
Dr. Hilaire said “We will mount a serious defense to demonstrate to the people of Saint Lucia and our international partners that there is total transparency, multi-layered due diligence, and proper approval of citizenship under the CIP legislation and regulations.”
Chastanet, in a statement on his Facebook page, said that the judicial action he took against the Citizenship by Investment Unit, is not to stop the programme, but “to stop the blatant corruption.”
“How can it be right that our citizenship which is legally priced at US$100,000 per person, was being undersold for as low as US$65,000?
“Why was US$1 BILLION worth of citizenships given to Galaxy to build a hotel which according to Prime Minister Pierre will cost US$400 million?
“Why was Galaxy then given an additional US$600 million for only US$100 million worth of infrastructure projects?
“They have also given BEMAX, an organization which has been label as an international criminal enterprise, $67 million worth of citizenships for just 66 low-cost houses?
“How do any of these deals make any sense? This is not just mismanagement, it is a betrayal of our nation. They are selling us out and we will not stand by and let it happen,” Chastanet said.