Saint Kitts PM Labels MSR’s Martinez an Extortionist

Saint Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Terrance Drew claims individuals purporting to represent French film producer Philippe Martinez approached his administration demanding between $40 million and $100 million to withdraw a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) lawsuit.

The alleged demand, which Drew labels an “extortion scheme,” would consume “about 10% of the budget” or potentially “approaching a quarter of our annual budget.”

During his speech, Drew pointed out that his administration runs the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program on the principle that “robust due diligence” must prevent “questionable actors” from exploiting the system.

He says his team uncovered Martinez’s criminal record after taking office, finding “somebody who’s convicted of fraud and spent jail time for fraud, who should not be in our program in the first place.”

Martinez and MSR Media joined the CBI program in May 2022, a time Drew pointedly references, saying that “another Prime Minister” admitted Martinez during the previous administration.

Martinez filed the RICO lawsuit in the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, naming several high-profile defendants, including former Prime Ministers Denzil Douglas and Timothy Harris, alongside former CBI Unit head Les Khan.

Drew questions Martinez’s motivations, pointing to the stark contrast between claiming to care about the nation while attempting to “extort tens of thousands of US dollars from the people of Saint Kitts and Nevis through the treasury.”

He says the government eschews “grandiose pronouncements or broadcast highly produced videos,” alluding to Martinez’s public interviews.

The PM says the government instead focuses on legal action backed by “actual proof while affording everyone due process.”

He says his administration pioneered regional reform by making underselling “a criminal offense,” granting enforcement powers to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The current administration appointed a Special Prosecutor to investigate the CBI program.

The PM has acknowledged the challenges the CBI program faces and does admit that changes “are not gonna happen overnight.”

He did affirm that the administration implements continuous due diligence measures and distances itself from “questionable projects and individuals” to create a “more resilient and sustainable” CBI program for future generations.