Prime Minister Harris Addresses Global Citizenship Seminar

(ZIZ News) — In true candid fashion, St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris addressed Monday’s Global Citizenship Seminar, organised by Henley and Partners in Miami, Florida.

He spoke with pride of the country’s Citizenship by Investment [CBI] Programme, calling it “the oldest and best” and said it “now contributes nearly 35 percent of the country’s revenue.”

Notwithstanding, Dr. Harris made it clear to the many nations represented that when it assumed office this year, his administration encountered significant challenges with the CBI Programme.

He said, “I don’t want to dwell on the history, but there were two major pressing challenges that we faced when we took office,” citing the United States Government’s advice to “prove our programme did not encourage illicit actors” and the Canadian Government’s implementation of a visa restriction on St. Kitts-Nevis’ citizens.

The nation’s leader spoke of his administration’s strides in forging closer links with the Governments of Canada and the United States, adding that there was also a need to fix the relationship with the United Kingdom, the European Union, and multilateral agencies such as the International Monetary Fund.

He also spoke of the 20 recommendations of the global risk management firm IPSA International that his government is in the process of implementing.

Dr. Harris maintains that his administration “will protect private property, enlarge economic freedoms” and is committed to “a low tax regime”.

He said, “We pride ourselves as one of the countries in the world with no income tax and no capital gains tax.”