Urgent Warning: Saint Lucia CIP Corruption Mirrors Dominica’s Troubled Program

Saint Lucia CIP Corruption Echoes Dominica’s Scandal, Warns Advocate Minerva Ward

Castries, Saint Lucia — Saint Lucia’s Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) is coming under fire following accusations that it mirrors the controversial program in Dominica, which has long been plagued by allegations of corruption. Minerva Ward, a prominent Saint Lucian advocate, issued a scathing critique of the government’s handling of the CIP, comparing it to the Dominican system that has led to financial instability, loss of visa-free travel privileges, and damaged international relations.

Ward’s statement, released earlier, accused the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) government of employing tactics similar to those used by Dominica’s ruling party. She warned that Saint Lucia is on a dangerous path, following in the footsteps of its regional neighbor, where years of mismanagement have crippled the country’s financial and diplomatic standing.

“Dominica was one of the first countries in the OECS to have a CIP/CBI program, and for years all of us in the OECS have heard about the corruption taking place in that program,” Ward said in her statement. “We all saw politicians like Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and his Dominica Labour Party members amass wealth that extends far beyond their salaries as PM and ministers.”

Ward further highlighted the loss of visa-free access for Dominicans, the withdrawal of correspondent banking services, and unpaid contractors due to mismanaged CIP funds as key consequences of Dominica’s CIP. She expressed concern that Saint Lucia could face similar repercussions if its program continues unchecked, especially given the questionable involvement of foreign developers such as Caribbean Galaxy.

Ward drew attention to the resemblances between the two programs, particularly in how CIP funds in Saint Lucia are reportedly going to developers like Caribbean Galaxy, rather than being managed transparently through government channels such as the consolidated fund or an escrow account.

“The very same talking points made by Skerrit have been echoed by Ernest Hilaire, about the money not belonging to St Lucia but belonging to Caribbean Galaxy,” she said. “The Housing Program/Infrastructure Program, which places our citizenship money in the pockets of the developer rather than the consolidated fund or escrow account with oversight, is unethical, illegal, and highly open to corruption.”

Dominica’s CIP has been widely criticized for fostering corruption and mismanagement, with critics alleging that while some funds were used for public projects, much more found its way into the hands of corrupt politicians and their allies. An Al Jazeera investigation further uncovered the full extent of this mismanagement, casting a shadow over Dominica’s international reputation.

The consequences for Dominica have been dire. The UK and Schengen zone revoked visa-free access for Dominican citizens, and the island lost its correspondent banking services, leading to a severe financial crisis. Skerrit himself admitted that his government cannot access CIP funds, resulting in unpaid contractors and stagnating development.

Ward cautioned that Saint Lucia could face similar diplomatic and financial fallout if it does not address the growing concerns surrounding its CIP. She argued that without urgent reforms and oversight, Saint Lucia risks damaging its own international standing.

“It is mind-boggling that Dominica’s prime minister, a man with a reputation for corruption, whose mishandling and corruption in their own program has caused his country to lose visa-free access to European counties and correspondent banking, would be invited as a guest on a government minister’s Thursday night talk show, to ‘encourage St Lucia to remain on course with CIP,’” Ward said.

The Saint Lucian government has yet to respond to these allegations, but pressure is mounting for greater transparency and accountability in managing the CIP. Calls for an investigation into Caribbean Galaxy’s involvement have grown louder, as many citizens fear the nation could be on the verge of diplomatic isolation and financial crisis similar to Dominica’s.

As Ward’s warnings reverberate across the island, the future of Saint Lucia’s CIP remains uncertain. The next steps by the government will be crucial in determining whether the program continues to serve the nation or becomes a vehicle for Saint Lucia CIP Corruption, as has been the case in Dominica.

Full Statement by Minerva Ward:

“The SLP government in St Lucia is using the same playbook as the corrupt Dominica government. Dominica was one of the first countries in the OECS to have a CIP/CBI program, and for years all of us in the OECS have heard about the corruption taking place in that program.

We all saw politicians like Skerrit and his Dominica Labour Party members amass wealth that extends far beyond their salaries as Prime Minister and ministers. While Dominica used some of its money to build houses, hospitals, etc., far less money that entered the country went into its development. Instead, it went into the pockets and offshore accounts of corrupt politicians, foreign CIP agents, and preferred DLP-favoured lawyers.

Remember the Al Jazeera report on the corrupt Roosevelt Skerrit? For every $1 Dominicans got from the sale of their passports, $4 went to corrupt politicians and those involved in running their CIP/CBI like a Ponzi scheme. The result: the UK and Schengen region withdrew the visa-free privileges for Dominicans, who now need a visa to visit England, Martinique, France, etc.

Additionally, Dominica has lost its correspondent banking services, and by Skerrit’s own admission, he cannot get CIP money from abroad into Dominica. Dominican contractors cannot get paid.

What we see in the Saint Lucia CIP Corruption under this government is the exact same scam that Dominica is running but with Caribbean Galaxy. The very same talking points made by Skerrit have been echoed by Ernest Hilaire, about the money not belonging to St Lucia but belonging to Caribbean Galaxy.

The very same argument that has been made by the UWP in Dominica has been made by the UWP in St Lucia: the Housing Program/Infrastructure Program, which places our citizenship money in the pockets of the developer rather than into the consolidated fund or an escrow account with oversight, is unethical, illegal, and highly open to corruption.

It is mind-boggling that Dominica’s prime minister, a man with a reputation for corruption, whose mishandling and corruption in their own program caused his country to lose visa-free access to European countries and correspondent banking, would be invited as a guest on a government minister’s Thursday night talk show to ‘encourage St Lucia to remain on course with CIP.’”

In Summary:

Minerva Ward’s urgent warning draws clear parallels between the Saint Lucia CIP Corruption and Dominica’s corrupt program. As more citizens voice concerns, the Saint Lucian government faces mounting pressure to introduce reforms, ensure transparency, and prevent the country from following Dominica’s downward path. The question now is whether the government will act before it’s too late.