New Head of St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship unit Appointed

In order to maintain the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship Program as the world’s most popular citizenship program, the Head of it has been replaced.

On Monday, September 16, 2024, the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship Unit sent out a press release from the capital Basseterre, announcing the appointment of a new Head of the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship Program, Mr. Calvin St. Juste.

The announcement stated that the handover of the position will begin on October 1, 2024, and that he will begin his tenure with several trips to Asia and the Middle East, which coincides with the departure of the previous Head of the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship Program, Mr. Michael Martin.

After his visit to Dubai immediately after assuming office and meeting with the agents and concerned authorities, Mr. Calvin spoke about the relations between the UAE and St. Kitts and he focused on the importance of accelerating the processing of pending files and the ones that have special cases and promised to return the processing of files to their normal status, meaning that any application for the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship Program will make you wait only 6 months to obtain it.

St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship Program Leader Appointing

The new Head of the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship Program has over 25 years of experience in finance, banking, investment, technology and medicine, most notably as CEO of Morgan Stanley, the world’s most prestigious investment banking firm.

During his inauguration, the new President of the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship Programme hosted a special event with a wide range of stakeholders, including agents, philanthropists and real estate developers. During the event, Mr. Juste said his journey is based on six principles: transparency, communication, good governance, transformation, global leadership and sustainability.
In his remarks, Mr. Juste said, “It is a great honor to lead the Citizenship by Investment Programme to the next level, building on our position as the first and best citizenship unit in the world. Adherence to all six principles is essential to achieving excellence in all our endeavors, with a focus on professionalism and exceptional client service. He concluded by saying that they look forward to working with key stakeholders and strategic agents to realize this vision.”
Mr. Juste’s unique approach and leadership was endorsed by the Prime Minister of St. Kitts, Terence Drew, who addressed the audience at the event and provided valuable insights into the history of the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Programme.
Finally, Mr. Juste thanked the former Chair of the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship Programme, for all his service and contributions during his tenure, who stepped down after Mr. Juste took over.

In addition to Chairman Juste, the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship Unit Oversight Board is comprised of a group of experts with expertise in finance, business and governance who will provide their expertise to the Citizenship Programme through monthly meetings. The Oversight Board is comprised of:

✓ Economist and Finance Expert, Dr. Louisa Lawrence.

✓ Risk Management and Anti-Money Laundering Expert, Mr. Damiel James

✓ Marketing and Finance Expert, Ms. Keshia McLean

✓ Project Management, Planning and Development Expert, Mr. Carlton Pogson

✓ Finance and Banking Expert, Ms. Marsha Harris

Mr. Juste stated that he is honored to work with such a talented and experienced team, and said that as a team they will provide their expertise to the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship on the one hand, and to investors applying to the Citizenship Programme on the other.

Commitments of St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship New Authority

Mr. Juste promised to address three critical issues in the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship Programme above all else. The first was the issue of communication between the Citizenship Programme and stakeholders.

The second was the process of establishing an efficient but timely and non-delayed screening process for applicants. He added that he was aware of the delays and long-standing applications and stated that he would make this a top priority. He also stated that he would establish two separate teams to expedite the incoming processes for St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship applications.

This promise was clear during his first visit to the UAE after assuming office, as he confirmed this decision to return the processing of files for a period not exceeding 6 months.

On the third issue, Mr. Juste indicated that he would transform the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship Programme into a statutory body rather than a government entity as of October 2024, and pledged to visit Asia and the Middle East shortly after commencing his duties.

Also, Mr. Juste stated that he would strengthen the Central Communications Unit by establishing a dedicated Communications Department. Plus, He said that he is considering holding quarterly meetings with stakeholders to hear their voices in order to improve the Citizenship Programme.
The new St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship Authority’s mandate extends beyond updating the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship Program, as it has been tasked with appointing an external agency to review the program on an annual basis to ensure the integrity of the program, as well as procedures related to the executive unit, overseeing financial operations, and investigating complaints related to the citizenship program.

If you are interested in obtaining a powerful St. Kitts passport, please contact our authorized Citizenship by Investment office and we will explain all the details of the program and what it can offer you.