Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew has issued a firm rebuttal to recent comments made by former prime minister Dr. Timothy Harris suggesting that citizenship is a “product” that can be bought and sold, describing the statement as a fundamental mischaracterisation of national identity and a distortion of how St. Kitts and Nevis’ Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme functions.
Speaking at The Roundtable press conference last Thursday, Dr. Drew said he wanted the international community and citizens alike to “disregard” Harris’ remarks, which he said risked further damaging the credibility of the Federation’s CBI at a time of heightened global scrutiny.
“The highest office of any citizen in our country is our citizenship,” the Prime Minister said. “It is not a product. We do not sell citizenship.”
Dr. Drew explained that under the CBI framework, applicants are invited to invest at a minimum level prescribed by law, after which they may apply for citizenship and are subjected to what he described as a “very vigorous due diligence process.” Citizenship, he said, is only granted if an applicant is found to be suitable following that evaluation.
He also rejected assertions that the price of citizenship is negotiated between “buyers and sellers”, stressing that minimum investment thresholds are established in legislation and cannot be altered through private arrangements.
“The minimum investment amount is determined by the law,” Dr. Drew said. “Anybody who sells below that minimum amount would be breaking the law.”
The Prime Minister revealed that allegations of such practices during the previous administration led to legal proceedings against him, including a judicial review before the High Court, where no evidence was found that he, or his administration, had violated the law. He said that where irregularities were uncovered involving individuals who had benefited from unlawful arrangements, corrective action was taken.
“When we uncovered the names of those who participated in such illegality, I immediately put action in place and asked them to pay the full amount,” he said. “Otherwise, they would lose the privilege of having our citizenship.”
Dr. Drew described the characterisation of citizenship as a commodity as a “bastardisation” of the programme, arguing that it contributes to reputational harm internationally and reinforces narratives that small states treat citizenship casually or commercially.
“It is sad that such vulgarity was promoted,” he said, adding that some of the consequences now facing the CBI sector globally are rooted in past practices that failed to respect the seriousness of citizenship.
The Prime Minister said his administration has taken deliberate steps since coming to office to restore credibility and confidence in the programme, including increasing minimum investment thresholds, strengthening due diligence, enhancing transparency, and converting the CBI unit into a statutory body to improve oversight.
He also pointed to upcoming reforms, including the introduction of a residency component and the collection of biometric data for applicants worldwide, as further evidence of the Government’s intent to safeguard the programme.
“These are not cosmetic changes,” Dr. Drew said. “They are structural reforms designed to show the world that we take our responsibilities seriously.”
He stressed that citizenship belongs to the people of St. Kitts and Nevis, not to any political party, administration or individual, and said his Labour Government will continue to act to protect the country’s name and standing in the international arena.
“Citizenship is sacred,” the Prime Minister said, “and it must be treated that way.”
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