This article was published in the St Kitts & Nevis Observer, 30 March 2012

I’m highlighting this part of the article here, but you really should read the whole thing – link below. It’s really obvious why Henley & Partners felt so much at ease working with the Maltese Labour government, and why the Maltese Labour government felt so much at ease working at a St Kitts & Nevis level of banana republic dealings. Banana republic or no banana republic, it’s quite dispiriting to see that St Kitts & Nevis has a more critical press than we do.

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By now everybody in our Federation should know the name Henley & Partners (Henley), the firm which, in 2007, was given by our Government the worldwide exclusive authority to represent and promote the St.Kitts & Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program for five years. And I’m told that the deal has been, or is to be, renewed for further five years.

Henley operates out of a St.Kitts office which is located, yes, in the said Ursula Amory Building at the corner of Central and New Streets in Basseterre. Same building, same space as CIC and CGC. And, allegedly, the same personnel.

Henley has a partner in St.Kitts & Nevis: Mr. Wendell Lawrence.

In the deal with the Government, in addition to collecting fees directly from citizenship applicants who engage its services, Henley also collects 10% of all moneys paid by SIDF applicants, regardless to which service providers those applicants choose.

Here’s a breakdown:

1. SIDF contribution……………………..US$250,000.00
2. Government Administrative Fee…US$50,000.00
3. Henley & Partners’ 10% cut……… US$25,000.00
4. Balance to SIDF……………………….. US$175,000.00

In effect, it appears that Henley collects nearly 15% of all of the money destined for the SIDF. This is more than outrageous, if you ask me. That’s the people’s money. And Henley is alleged to have funded the ‘It’s Working’ campaign of Denzil Douglas’ Party in the general elections of January, 2010. It’s working, indeed. But for how much longer?

Denzil Douglas, the Prime Minister of St.Kitts & Nevis, exercises control over the SIDF.

Mr. Wendell Lawrence is a consultant. He’s also: (a) the immediate past Financial Secretary to the Government of St.Kitts & Nevis; (b) present Financial Adviser to the said Government ; (c) an ambassador plenipotentiary for St. Kitts & Nevis; (d) a member of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission; (e) a member of the Board of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank; (f) a member of a number of Government or Government-related Boards ; (g) the brother of the wife of Dr. Douglas’ brother; (h) the owner of CGC; ( i ) a partner in Henley ; and (j) his company, CGC, is the Secretary of CIC.

Mr. Lawrence provides his private consultancy services from the said Ursula Amory Building at the corner of Central and New Streets, in Basseterre, where it seems, he’s also part of the personnel-sharing arrangement with CIC, CGC and Henley.

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