Kishore takes on Gonsalves over CBI

Opposition candidate Kishore Shallow has endorsed citizenship by investment (CBI), saying that if Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves does not know how to implement such a programme, he should get out of the way of those who can.

Shallow said at the opening of his campaign office in Rose Hall that he attended an investment summit in Antigua in April, at which the leaders of the four Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) countries with a CBI programme spoke about their benefits to their economies.

The Cricket West Indies president endorsed CBI on a day that Gonsalves noted that the European Union’s highest court had ordered Malta, the last remaining European Union member state with CBI, to end the programme.

“Now, because you are out of ideas, it doesn’t mean that the New Democratic Party doesn’t have ideas,” said Shallow, who is making his first bid to become MP for North Leeward.

“It doesn’t mean that this distinguished team under [Opposition Leader] Dr. Godwin Friday cannot come up with creative ideas and show these people how to govern a state and advance a state.”

Shallow said that the New Democratic Party (NDP) does not have to reinvent the wheel.

“That is the beautiful thing about getting into administration at this time; because we are going to come in very humbly, and we are going to look at those best practice, some we have already accepted and adopted to an extent, and we are going to show how they could actually add value to our country.”

“Now, because the fellow, the old clown and that is what I referring to him [as] from now on, because he doesn’t understand citizens by investment, he refused to implement it.

“But as one of his colleagues, a regional leader, said to me, ‘’Because he has his own form of citizenship by investment programme, he don’t want to structure it’,” Shallow said.

“… It’s not me who says so. It’s one of his colleagues who said so. So, when he telling you about selling passports and all kind of foolishness, it’s either you accept you don’t know and you shut your mouth, or you come and you’ll be honest with the people.”

Under the Gonsalves-led Unity Labour Party administrations, a number of investors have gained citizenship in St. Vincent and the Grenadines after living in the country for some time.

Notable among them was Dave Ames, who was jailed in the United Kingdom for defrauding pensioners of the money that he then used to build the former Buccament Bay Resort in SVG.

Shallow said he and Ben Exeter, a former NDP candidate for Central Leeward, were at the investment summit in Antigua.

“And this session was so insightful. I wish every single Vincentian could have seen or participate in that session, because you would have understand fully what it is we are missing out on,” Shallow said.

He said Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne, St. Lucia’s Philip Pierre, Grenada’s Dickon Mitchell, and Dominica’s Roosevelt Skerritt attended the summit.

He noted that Gonsalves and Skerritt are good friends, adding, “But we ain’t go go there tonight. We ain’t go go there tonight.”

Shallow said there was also a presentation from St. Kitts and Nevis Attorney General, Garth Wilkin.

“… these political figures in the region spoke with great conviction about what this programme has done for each of them,” Shallow said.  

“I mean, it was unbelievable when I stood there, I sat there, and I listened very attentively, and I concluded what a wicked fellow we have leading us in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

“… The citizen by investment programme is currently valued at US$50 billion,” Shallow said, adding that the representatives of the five OECS nations spoke about the impact of CBI on each of their countries.

“They admitted that out of the $50 billion, they are only tapping into 5% so far — 5% of $50 billion we are tapping into as a region. So, what happened to St. Vincent? We’re the worst?”

Shallow, who holds a doctorate in business administration, specialising in finance, said SVG’s budget over the last few years mounted to EC$6 billion, “but here we are refusing to tap into $50 billion like our colleagues”.

He said that over the last 10 years, Antigua and Barbuda generated an average of EC$300 million annually.

“That is what we have been missing out on. But yet they want to fool you. The old clown want to trick you and mamaguy you into talking about ‘selling passport’.

“This thing has gone way beyond that; the spill-off effect, the employment opportunities created by this, it is absolutely tremendous, and it will be a game changer and when the New Democratic Party takes office, we are going to implement it.”

He said the NDP’s leadership has said that an NDP administration will implement a CBI programme.

“… and I am now reminding you, we are going to adopt the citizen by investment programme, and we are not running away from that policy, because what that will do for us, it is going to help us to improve your standard of living.”

Shallow said CBI will help SVG to increase salaries, adding that some houses in Rose Hall are empty because people are migrating to seek opportunities.  

“And so, rather than losing our family and friends, we are going to ensure that our salaries here … are attractive enough so our people stay here,” he said.

“We are going to reduce taxes on income. And I going as far as saying — Dr. Friday, you ain’t telling me this, and we ain’t sit down and talk about this properly — but with the money that I projected based on my understanding or my appreciation for the system, within the first term, I would not be surprised if we’re able to take off taxes totally from all income,” Shallow said.

“… we are not stopping and we’re not selling the people short. We are going to improve infrastructure for our people in this country, so we don’t have to worry about a road and a bypass road that if rain drizzle you can’t go from North Leeward to town,” he said, referring to the situation in Cumberland, another North Leeward community.

“We are going to give you proper infrastructure, whether it’s road network, improve them; we are going to develop the tourist sites, and we are going to develop a sports academy and structure for the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

“And I tell you, if they continue after this and still talking about the citizenship by investment programme cannot work, simply tell them, because you can’t do it. It doesn’t mean the NDP can’t do it.

“And if you know you can’t do it, pack up your bag and leave,” Shallow said.