An opportunity to acquire a citizenship status has opened in the Caribbean Islands as the federation of St Kitts and Nevis has thrown its doors open, especially for the Nigerian business class, to invest up to US $400,000 and earn an automatic citizenship for life.
This is St Kits and Nevis government sponsored citizenship-by-investment programme established since 1984 that awards citizenship status for life with an unlimited number of dependants, passed down through generations.
The citizenship will be awarded to the applicant within 90- 120 days of full payment and filling of the application form with full residency status, and working permit extended to the applicant’s dependants.
Stanley Idatonye Brown, managing director of Franklyn Financial Nigeria Limited told BusinessDay exclusively that a holder of St Kitts and Nevis citizenship has the opportunity to travel visa-free to 139 countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Schengen European countries and most of the British Commonwealth countries.
“The truth about the whole thing is that if you buy a property in this island, you qualify not just you, your children’s children, and your parents for citizenship in this country and you qualify for a Visa free entry into 139 countries.
“There is an advantage for our children. I encourage well meaning Nigerians to take advantage of this citizenship by investment programme; if you invest, you start earning interest from day one. So, as you pay in your money, it goes into a trust-worthy bank and the interest goes up every year.
“For me, it is a win-win situation and besides, we have a financial package, an arrangement with a local financial company that gives you a little bit of mortgage or encouragement to help you buy into the project”, Brown said.
According to him, the citizenship by investment programme will be formally launched this February, during the general meeting of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture(PHACCIMA) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
BusinessDay gathered that Park Hyatt St Kitts is the designated and approved project by the citizenship by investment unit of the government of St Kitts and Nevis, which a prospectus applicant is required to invest in to enable him get full citizenship.
Furthermore, Park Hyatt St Kitts is a world class luxury Hotel within Christophe Harbour, an emerging resort community located in the island of St Kitts.
By: Saby Elemba
