BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – The government of St. Kitts and Nevis has announced the revocation of citizenship for 13 individuals and their dependents. This action is part of what the government describes as “decisive actions” aimed at safeguarding the integrity of its Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme. Through this program, foreign investors can obtain citizenship of the twin-island Federation by making a significant contribution to the country’s socio-economic development.
The CBI program, also offered by governments in St. Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, and Dominica, has faced increased scrutiny from the United States and European governments. Concerns have been raised that these programs could be exploited by individuals seeking foreign passports through illicit means.
In a recent statement, the St. Kitts-Nevis government affirmed that, in collaboration with the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU), it has taken “decisive actions” to “preserve the integrity and international reputation of the CBI Programme.”
Following a thorough investigation conducted by the Ministry of National Security, Immigration, and Citizenship, the government issued the Saint Christopher and Nevis Citizenship (Deprivation of Citizenship) Order, 2025. This order resulted in the revocation of citizenship from 13 individuals and their dependents who were found to have failed to remit the statutory minimum investment required under the CBI Programme, despite having declared otherwise in their applications.
The investigation originated from a review of 158 redacted applications and contracts associated with two International Marketing Agents that raised concerns about suspicious practices.
According to the government, the 158 identified individuals were contacted. Of these, 32 individuals subsequently paid their outstanding investment balances. However, 13 individuals admitted to not paying the required amounts and took no steps to rectify the situation, while one individual requested a hearing before a Commission of Inquiry. The remaining individuals are reportedly in communication with the relevant authorities to resolve their outstanding investment balances.
“After careful consideration, and exercising powers under Sections 8 and 10 of the Citizenship Act to issue deprivation orders in March 2025, the Ministry issued the Saint Christopher and Nevis Citizenship (Deprivation of Citizenship) Order, 2025 on the basis of false representation and willful concealment of material facts, and in the interest of the public good,” the government stated.
In conjunction with these revocations, the CIU has permanently blacklisted two International Marketing Agents: Latitude Consultancy and RIF Trust. This action was taken due to their role in marketing the CBI Programme “at investment amounts below the statutory minimum and misleading clients” – clear violations of the regulations governing the Programme.
“Clients of both companies confirmed receiving false assurances of ‘special discounts’. Both entities are now prohibited from all CBI-related activities and cannot present themselves as agents or affiliates of the Programme,” the government informed Caribbean News Media.
Furthermore, the government announced the termination of its investment agreement with MSR Media SKN Ltd and MSR Hotels & Co. Ltd, citing “multiple breaches of their contractual obligations.”
These breaches reportedly include failures to renovate and operate key hospitality and tourism infrastructure, employ the agreed-upon number of local citizens, and deliver promised film productions. “Compounding these breaches, the MSR Companies and their principals launched a coordinated international campaign to discredit the Saint Kitts and Nevis CBI Programme and falsely accuse Government officials of local and cross-jurisdictional unethical practices—actions wholly incompatible with a constructive partnership under the CBI framework.”
The government reiterated its “zero-tolerance policy toward abuse of the CBI Programme” and affirmed its commitment to “enforcing its regulations to ensure that only credible, compliant investors benefit from citizenship of Saint Kitts and Nevis.”
