Day: June 20, 2022

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Citizenship by Investment programme becomes catalyst in development of St Kitts and Nevis

Basseterre, June 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Despite being the smallest country in the Western Hemisphere, the twin-island Federation of St Kitts and Nevis gave the world its first economic citizenship programme in 1984. It provides alternative citizenship in exchange for a financial contribution to the country’s economy.

St Kitts and Nevis is well-known across the world for its pristine beaches and sheer blue waters; it is also among the most stable economies in the region, with tourism being the major source of income. The stability and tranquil environment of the country enable it as an ideal location for people seeking alternative citizenship. There is no denying that the CBI programme of the country offers a much-needed injection of foreign direct investment, often in a way that can make significant developmental differences.

The twin-island nation is indeed home to the world’s longstanding economic citizenship programme and has been providing alternative citizenship for more than three decades. The Citizenship by Investment Programme of the country is the oldest programme across the globe. The CBI Programme guarantees platinum standards with increased mobility, sustainable investment opportunities and greater economic freedom for successful applicants.

For St Kitts and Nevis, the citizenship by investment programme has a vital role to play in its socio-economic development. The programme is crucial for funding many projects. As per the CBI experts, the alternative citizenship of St Kitts and Nevis country is the most powerful in the region and provides access to more than 75 percent of the world. Not only this, but the citizenship is granted for life to the applicants with the ability to add additional dependents.

The citizenship by investment programme has been lauded for its stringent, vigorous and robust due-diligence background checks. The multi-layered background checks are carried out internally by the citizenship by investment unit based on the original and certified supporting documents an agent submits with your application, as well as externally by the third-party firm. The government of St Kitts and Nevis has hired the world’s top-tier independent third-party agencies to check the character, source of investment, and documents of applicants. The checks are not only limited to online information, but also does thorough on-ground examinations to ensure that a person of only the highest character is granted citizenship. The background checks help maintain the integrity of the programme and also ensure national and international security.

The CBI Programme has earned multiple awards and a reputation as the ‘platinum standard’ of CBI. The Financial Times’ PWM magazine lauded Citizenship by Investment Programme of St Kitts and Nevis in the CBI Index. According to the nine pillars of the CBI Index of 2021, St Kitts and Nevis have been ranked first for “Citizenship Timeline”, “Due Diligence”, and “Family”.

Interested candidates may apply for alternative citizenship of the nation through the Sustainable Growth Fund (SGF), which is known as the Fund Option. It is considered the fastest investment option, launched in 2018 by Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris. Through SGF, an applicant may contribute to the growing economy of St Kitts and Nevis. St Kitts and Nevis CBI Programme create opportunities for investors and the local community to drive economic growth and build a sustainable future.

The applicant has to follow basic steps to apply for the alternative citizenship of the twin-island Federation –

Step 1: Choose an alternative agent across the globe

Step 2: Complete the applications and documentation

Step 3: Due Diligence

Step 4: If your application is selected, proceed to payment

Step 5: Certification

Located in the Caribbean region, St Kitts and Nevis is easily accessible by cruise ships and planes. The nation is known as the region’s best-kept secret. The stunning beauty, rich history and friendly locals make the country a perfect must-visit travel destination. The nation has been regarded “splendid” due to the seven factors – volcanoes, mountains, coral reefs, protected areas, coastlines, rainforests, and glaciers.

St Kitts is known to be party-friendly and Nevis is all about peace and nature. The Caribbean country will attract the tourists with fascinating activities, including bobbing yachts, swaying palm trees, and jaw-dropping sunset sights. The tourists may also enjoy the warm local feel, island’s rich history or kick back at one of the many incredible resorts.

St Kitts and Nevis, two islands have been separated by a two-mile channel, which is popularly called “Narrows”. The tourists may easily travel between both the nations through excellent ferry services which accommodates both persons and cars. Both are regarded as quaint in nature with cobbled sidewalks and a wealth of history on display. These islands offer magnificent historical sites and landmarks to explore, including the Circus Monument, which adorns Fort Street, the main thoroughfare in Basseterre and the Museum of Nevis History in Charlestown. The Brimstone Hill Fortress and National Park is acclaimed as the largest fortress in the Eastern Caribbean and is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

PR St Kitts and Nevis
Government of St. Kitts and Nevis
pr@csglobalpartners.com
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World Food Crisis Appeal launched as millions face rising food costs and severe hunger

Millions of people are facing a food crisis that could be worse than any we’ve lived through. All around the world families are finding it harder than ever to put food on the table.In Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan, up to 20 million people are fighting for their very survival.

The Catholic aid agency, CAFOD, has responded by launching a World Food Crisis Appeal – which aims to raise urgent funds to support those facing acute hunger, help people rebuild their lives, and encourage people to take action that can help build a better, fairer food system that works for everyone.

In East Africa, many of the people worst affected have been learning to cope with the impact of climate change for years – but collapsing supply chains, on top of four consecutive years of unbearable drought, have put everything they’ve worked for at risk.

CAFOD is responding to the World Food Crisis in countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, and has spokespeople, photos and film footage from the following countries:

•Kenya – CAFOD has a range of spokespeople in-country. Our Executive Director, Christine Allen, has also recently returned from northern Kenya. Photos and b-roll footage available.

•South Sudan – spokespeople available in country and in the UK.

•Ethiopia – spokespeople available in country and in the UK.

•Afghanistan – high quality recent photos, case studies and b-roll footage of families who have struggled to find enough food over recent months.

•Lebanon – the country imported 80% of its grain from Ukraine, and the current crisis comes on top of an existing economic crisis and impacts of the Beirut port explosion. Spokespeople available.

•Sri Lanka – an economic crisis which has seen food prices rise and in May led to protests and the resignation of the Prime Minister. Spokespeople available in country and in the UK.

Christine Allen, CAFOD’s Executive Director, has just returned from seeing the impact of the food crisis in northern Kenya. She said:

“Even before the war in Ukraine started, the food system was in crisis and the impact of climate change was making it harder for those who grow most of the world’s produce to put food on their own plates. The effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine are trickling down the already stressed food system, and the poorest are feeling it most acutely.

“In some of the places I visited in northern Kenya, it has only rained a matter of minutes in the last two years. Climate change has devastated the region. The majority of people I met had already lost their precious livestock to the drought. The women in Tulidimtu village mourned their camel’s death like they would a friend’s. Livestock are like a savings account and in a drought, the death of livestock is often followed by the death of people.

“This crisis was not inevitable and is a result of human action. Firstly, the UK Government and international donors must address the funding gap in East Africa: UK aid to the region has almost halved in the past year due to budget cuts. The root causes of the crisis must also be addressed, including tackling climate change, fixing our broken food system, and providing more funding to community level responses.”

The world food crisis is affecting people all around the world – but as with all crises, the most vulnerable are hit hardest. In a remote, mountainous village in Afghanistan, CAFOD is supporting families with cash so that they are able to buy food from the local market. One father told us:

“We did not have enough food for days. We had only bread for two mealtimes. For another mealtime, my children would eat grasses. My wife and my boy are hospitalised for eating grasses. Doctors said that their stomachs have problems and their intestines are damaged.”

Source: Catholic Agency for Overseas Development

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On this World Refugee Day, the right to seek safety has never been more important

This year the world reached a stark milestone of 100 million children, women, and men uprooted from their homes by war, violence, persecution, and human rights abuses.

As displacement shatters all records, the right to seek protection has never been more important for people – whoever they are, wherever they come from, and whenever they are forced to flee.

This fundamental right is non-negotiable and has given life-saving protection to countless millions of people worldwide, many of them in Central Africa.

At the close of 2021, the number of refugees worldwide reached 27.1 million, while 53.2 million remained displaced within the borders of their countries.

In recent years, more than 2.3 million people escaping conflict in South Sudan have sought and been granted asylum in five neighboring countries: Sudan, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

A small, young country, itself facing multiple challenges, South Sudan has also generously opened its territory to 343,000 refugees and asylum seekers, mainly from Sudan, but also from Ethiopia and DRC, at the moment they most needed it.

This year on World Refugee Day, each year marked on 20 June to highlight the strength and resilience of people forced to flee, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is restating five core principles that have saved these and countless other lives:

1. THE RIGHT TO SEEK ASYLUM:

Seeking asylum is a human right. Anyone fleeing persecution, conflict, or human rights abuses has a right to seek protection in another country.

2. SAFE ACCESS:

Borders should remain open to all people forced to flee. Restricting access and closing borders can make the journey even more dangerous for people seeking safety.

3. NO PUSHBACKS:

People can’t be forced to return to a country if their life or freedom would be at risk. This means that countries shouldn’t push anyone back without first evaluating the dangers they would face back home.

4. NO DISCRIMINATION:

People should not be discriminated against at borders. All applications for refugee status must be given fair consideration, regardless of factors like race, religion, gender and country of origin.

5. HUMANE TREATMENT:

People forced to flee should be treated with respect and dignity. They are entitled to safe and dignified treatment like any human being. Among other things, this means keeping families together, protecting people from traffickers, and avoiding arbitrary detention.

Protecting people forced to flee is a collective global responsibility. Once they are out of harm’s way, people fleeing wars or persecution need opportunities to heal, learn, work and thrive – in line with the Refugee Convention and the Global Compact on Refugees. And they need solutions, such as the chance to return home in safety and dignity, to integrate locally, or in the most vulnerable cases to be resettled to a third country.

Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

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