Hilaire Dismisses Opposition CIP Allegations As Baseless Lies

During the Sitting of the House of Assembly on Tuesday, October 22, Castries South MP and Investment Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire firmly addressed accusations of wrongdoing leveled against the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP), particularly by the opposition United Workers Party (UWP), regarding the Citizenship by Investment Program (CIP). The SLP has faced allegations of manipulating the CIP in ways that undermine the island’s legislative process. These claims gained momentum after a Gazette published on September 12, 2024, announced the approval of two projects: “Caribbean Galaxy Real Estate Limited – National Infrastructure Improvement Program” and “Bemax LLC – Rock Hall Housing Development Project.” Notably, the start dates for these projects were backdated to January 12, 2024. The opposition and its supporters raised concerns, questioning whether this move followed standard legislative practices. They also implied that it was tied to unethical approvals for the sale of Saint Lucian citizenship under the CIP. Public speculation suggested that these approvals were an attempt to legitimise unlawful actions and that the administration was secretly selling citizenships for the benefit of a select few. Ahead of the parliamentary session, UWP spokesperson Lenard “Spider” Montoute, during a protest outside the House, stated, “We have no information...