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St George’s: The New National Party (NNP) of Grenada has recently raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest involving the Prime Minister’s associations. Allegations suggest that the Prime Minister has connections to Mitchell and Partners, a prominent CBI agent firm.
Further fueling these concerns is the revelation that one of the Prime Minister’s advisors, who not only holds significant positions within his ministry but also acts as a special envoy, is a CBI agent himself. “This unfair association gives Mitchell and Partners, and the advisor’s firm, an undue advantage. Potential CBI investors may prefer these firms simply because of their connections to the Prime Minister and his advisors,” read an official statement of NNP.
They further added that the New National Party’s concerns aren’t born out of mere speculation. For a considerable amount of time, they have been conscious of this brewing conflict of interest within the Citizenship By Investment (CBI) Programme.
They added that many believe this issue is detrimental to the integrity of the CBI. Surprisingly, despite its apparent magnitude, this issue seems to be overlooked, with no notable actions or discussions addressing this potential jeopardy.
“This conflict, whether actual or perceived, is already compromising the integrity of our CBI Programme. Other agents in our country are unfairly disadvantaged, and this raises serious concerns about the transparency and fairness of the programme,” the statement added.
Adding to the growing list of concerns, the NNP has also sounded the alarm about potential complications on the international stage. They allege that due to the questionable handling of the CBI Programme, the United Kingdom is considering the imposition of visa restrictions on Grenadian citizens.
Such a move by a nation as prominent as the UK sends a disconcerting message. It underscores that the international community may be losing confidence in Grenada’s capability to oversee the programme with the necessary diligence and responsibility. The considerations of such deteriorating trust could be vast, impacting not just the CBI Programme but also Grenada’s reputation on the global stage.
