Government of St Kitts and Nevis does NOT accept cryptocurrency as a form of payment for its Citizenship by Investment programm

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Black Immigrant Daily News

News Americas, Basseterre, St. Kitts, Nov. 14, 2022: The government of St Kitts and Nevis, along with the Citizenship by Investment Unit of the country, have refuted claims that investors interested in gaining citizenship to the country can pay using cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin.

The St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment programme is the oldest in the world, having been established in 1984 – it has been providing investors from across the globe with one of the quickest, easiest, and most affordable routes to second citizenship.

Underpinned by a robust multi-layered due diligence process undertaken by international security firms from the USA and the UK, investors need to go through a formal application process consisting of eight main steps, which include:

Step 1: Pre-approval by a verified St Kitts and Nevis government agent and preparation of the application

Step 2: Submission of the citizenship application

Step 3: Application processing by the Citizenship by Investment Unit and internal and external due diligence checks

Step 4: Approval in principle letter issued

Step 5: Contribution to either the Sustainable Growth Fund or pre-approved real estate

Step 6: Bank clearance of source of funds

Step 7: Certificate of Registration issued

Step 8: Citizen can apply for a St Kitts and Nevis passport

Throughout the whole process, an investor will engage with an approved government agent who will facilitate the application and any payments will be made via registered banks using fiat money – a government-issued currency that is not backed by a commodity such as gold. An example would be the United States Dollar, Euro or Chinese Yuan.

Investors cannot make payments to a government-approved agent or the Citizenship by Investment Unit by using cryptocurrencies directly. These would need to be liquidated into fiat currency first and an applicant would need to provide a supporting affidavit regarding their source of funds as part of the application process.

St Kitts and Nevis has not yet passed any legislation regarding cryptocurrency. The country is participating in the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) pilot program, which aims to study the utilisation of cryptocurrency as a fiat currency.

The program’s purpose is to provide a safe and secure digital financial system by utilising the advantages of blockchain and is designed to exemplify the viability and functionality of the ECCB’s ability to issue Digital Eastern Caribbean Dollars.

The ECCB is the fiscal authority for the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU).

Speaking at the Electronic Cash Conference 2022, which was held on November 12 2022, Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr Terrance Drew, expressed that while Bitcoin Cash – another form of cryptocurrency – is used as a method of tender by some businesses in the country, due diligence checks are presently being prioritised by his government ahead of any major decision concerning that cryptocurrency’s official use.

Prime Minister Drew stated that the financial safety and security of citizens is a matter of high priority, and the government, with the guidance of the ECCB, is prepared to explore the possibility of Bitcoin Cash being introduced as legal tender in the local financial space.

The Prime Minister explained that once all the crucial financial safeguards were in place, Bitcoin Cash could become accepted legal tender in St Kitts and Nevis by March 2023.

Benefits of gaining second citizenship to St Kitts and Nevis

Citizenship by Investment is a legal process to grant individuals – and, in some cases, their families – dual citizenship in exchange for a financial contribution to the country’s economy. The initiative permits countries to channel generated funds into developing healthcare, education, infrastructure, and more.

Being a citizen of St Kitts and Nevis offers investors a myriad of benefits including family reunification, global mobility, enhanced security, and increased economic opportunities.

St Kitts and Nevis offers award-winning and internationally acclaimed education institutions like veterinary and medical universities, attracting global-minded professionals. People from all over the world come to St Kitts and Nevis, over a million a year to be exact, because of its booming tourism sector.

In recent years, the nation has seen growing numbers of American visitors. Around 1,000 US citizens currently reside on the islands. Now, with more work-from-home policies than ever, many see the Caribbean as the perfect destination to get away from the bustle of big cities while continuing to be connected when business calls.  

In addition to citizenship and global mobility, St Kitts and Nevis offers its citizens who choose to become tax residents a wide variety of insurance services in a tax-friendly environment. For example, the country guarantees financial privacy by not making any information about offshore business owners and top managers public.

Portfolio diversification is the first step in dispersing your investments so that your exposure is not limited to just one type of asset. An investment in property in St Kitts and Nevis would allow you to diversify your investment portfolio and potentially make a return upon selling that your share in real estate after the end of the minimum hold period. 

This will also ensure that you retain a certain amount of your wealth outside of your home country. In uncertain political and economic climates, knowing that a portion of your portfolio is free from the grips of a potentially corrupt government can give you tremendous peace of mind. 

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‘Wij hebben geschiedenis geschreven’

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The content originally appeared on: De Ware Tijd Online

door Marinio Balsemhof PARAMARIBO — “Wij zijn supertrots op deze vechters. Wij hebben, sowieso voor zowel Suriname als Curaçao, geschiedenis

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Le Domaine de l’Oasis et l’Espace Reprise fermés, des rencontres cette semaine

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Martinique FranceAntilles

Rédaction web

Domaine de l’Oasis • DR / FACEBOOK DOMAINE DE L’OASIS

Les deux établissements qui accueillent des événements festifs, et notamment nocturnes, ont fait l’objet de fermetures administratives immédiates, dès vendredi soir (11 novembre), après les graves fusillades qui ont eu lieu quelques heures plus tôt.

Suite aux fusillades survenues dans la nuit de jeudi à vendredi, deux établissements nocturnes où se sont déroulés les faits sont fermés provisoirement.

Dans un communiqué diffusé dès vendredi soir (11 novembre), le préfet de la Martinique a condamné avec fermeté ces faits qui ont traumatisé les Martiniquais rassemblés au sein de l’Espace Reprise et du Domaine de l’Oasis à Rivière-Salée pour passer un moment festif. Il a rappelé que, dans la nuit de jeudi à vendredi, ” un groupe de motocyclistes cagoulés a fait irruption en faisant usage à plusieurs reprises d’armes à feu au sein de deux établissements “.

 

A lire aussi
Quelle sécurité face aux événements de violences en soirée ?

 

Sept blessés ont été comptabilisés au Domaine de l’Oasis, dont plusieurs par balles.

 

Rencontres cette semaine

La décision administrative est tombée presqu’immédiatement. Depuis vendredi soir, les deux établissements concernés font l’objet d’une fermeture administrative provisoire de 6 mois.

« Cette décision est prise à titre conservatoire », précise le communiqué de la préfecture. Dès cette semaine, le préfet rencontrera les représentants de la filière de l’événementiel ainsi que ceux des sociétés de sécurité privée. « Ces réunions de travail auront pour objectif d’examiner les conditions de l’exercice de leur profession, ainsi que les mesures à prendre, en lien avec les forces de sécurité intérieures, afin que les établissements concernés puissent répondre à la forte attente des Martiniquaises et des Martiniquais de se retrouver dans ces endroits festifs en toute sécurité », précise-t-il.

 

A lire aussi
Agents de sécurité : un secteur qui recrute, mais avec beaucoup de turnovers

 

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Nederlandse AOW zou armoede in Suriname kunnen verlichten

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: De Ware Tijd Online

Dennis Belfor, voorzitter van stichting Hoob (Het Overkoepelend Orgaan Bestrijding AOW-gat Suriname), kwam op 9 september, enkele dagen vóór de

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Direct flights from Dominican Republic to Kingston start this week Loop Jamaica

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Jamaica News Loop News

Jamaica will welcome non-stop flights from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, beginning Monday, November 14.

The flights, being offered by the Dominican Republic’s new flagship airline, Arajet, will be available twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays, with round-trip fares as low as US$252.

Speaking at a press briefing on November 11, at the offices of the Jamaica Tourist Board in Kingston, Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett said that the connectivity by air between the two countries is more than a game changer.

“For us, this is not just a game changer, this is a Red Letter Day in the life of tourism aviation in the northern Caribbean, because we in the north are close to each other physically [and] geographically, but we are distant from each other [in regard to] connectivity,” said Bartlett.

Prior to direct flights being available, travel time from one country to the other would go up to as many as 20 hours.

Bartlett further explained that the decision to enable improved connectivity between Jamaica and the Dominican Republic “is part of a broader and wider strategy of integrating the Caribbean more, and of also creating backwards connections between Central America and South America”.

He also pointed out that air connectivity and the movement of people will be supported by investments.

“One of the real positives that will flow from this engagement is that it will bring to the respective destinations that energy for investment because there will be ease of access… but the key realisation is that within two hours you can be looking at your asset, making decisions not virtually but face to face and surveying the extent of your own investments and assets in the areas,” the minister emphasised.

Meanwhile, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Jamaica, Angie Martinez Tejera, also hailed the ability that both countries now have to connect by air, as a “game changer”.

“This development is an important diplomatic achievement, and will strengthen investments, commerce [and] tourism, but most important, in getting our people closer together,” she said.

Martinez Tejera thanked the team at Arajet Airline for making the connection a reality, noting that it has been a priority for her since being appointed.

For his part, chief executive officer (CEO) and co-founder of Ararjet, Victor Pacheco M?ndez, who joined virtually, said that the airline aims to “bridge the lack of connectivity and the lack of low fares in the region”.

He said that Arajet’s decision to offer direct flights to Jamaica forms part of the plan to launch 54 routes from Santo Domingo.

The CEO noted that Arajet has been in operation for one year and began serving 16 of its targeted destinations within the first 40 days of its operation.

JIS News

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Man accused of pulling firearm on woman during argument, arrested Loop Jamaica

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Jamaica News Loop News

Thirty-three-year-old Stevie White of Johnstown district, St. Thomas has been charged in connection with an incident at his home on Thursday, November 10.

He has been charged with illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, assault-at-common law and malicious destruction of property.

Reports from the Morant Bay Police are that at about 5:00 a.m., White and a woman had an argument. It is alleged that during the spat, White pulled a firearm, pointed it at the woman, and threatened to kill her mother.

He then reportedly went outside and threw stones at the woman’s house, damaging her windows. A report was made to the police. A search warrant was subsequently issued for the search of White’s home. During the search, one 9mm round and a firearm were found in a knapsack. He was then taken into custody and subsequently charged.

His court date is being finalized.

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Woman held up and robbed of $500 by men posing as taxi driver Loop Jamaica

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Jamaica News Loop News

Police have arrested and charged a man said to be a taxi operator after he reportedly held up and robbed a woman of $500 in cash, along with her phone.

The police said the man identified as 32-year-old Ramond Robinson, is a transport operator of Wint Road, Mandeville in Manchester was charged with robbery with aggravation on Saturday, November 12.

The reported robbery incident took place on Old Hope Road, St Andrew on Monday, October 31.

Reports from the Half Way Tree police are that at about 6:45 pm, a woman boarded a taxi near Papine, St. Andrew. Three men, including the driver, were reportedly in the Toyota Probox motor car.

Whilst traveling along Old Hope Road, one of the men brandished a firearm, held up the woman, and robbed her of $500. The men also took her iPhone.

The woman escaped without injury. She reported the incident to the police and Robinson was taken into custody later that same night. He was charged on Saturday, November 12 after being pointed out on an identification parade.

His court date is being finalised.

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Gov’t allocates $50 million to improve access to testing for diabetes Loop Jamaica

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Jamaica News Loop News

More Jamaicans will have access to the low-cost testing procedure for diabetes as the Government rolls out a $50-million programme to accelerate point-of-care checks for the killer disease in November.

The allocation for improved access to testing for diabetes comes against the background that four out of every 10 Jamaicans with the disease do not know that they have it. That is the data from the 2016-2017 Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey.

The survey also reports that one in every eight Jamaican has diabetes, while one in every two is overweight or obese – a modifiable risk factor for developing a non-communicable disease (NCD) such as diabetes.

The National Health Fund (NHF) is to receive the subsidy to cover the provision of testing devices and kits, information communication technology equipment and software used to slow down and stave off the disease.

The announcement of the expansion of the diabetes testing initiative was made by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dunstan Bryan. He was speaking at last Tuesday’s official launch of the Diabetes Awareness Month’s Communications Activation Plan.

The event was hosted by the Non-Communicable Disease and Injury Prevention Unit at the ministry under the theme: “Reaching for Lifestyle Changes Today’, at the ScotiaBank Corporate Learning Centre in St Andrew.

“Some 50,000 HbA1c tests are being provided to the Regional Health Authorities (RHAs) for testing. Private providers engaged in the public-private partnership for NCDs programme started testing in 2021 for public patients enrolled in the programme, and all 128 health centres will start testing this month,” said Bryan.

The goal is to improve diabetes management at the primary care level, reaching residents within communities across Jamaica. This initiative will augment other NCDs prevention strategies embarked on by the Government such as the establishment of a multi-sectoral National Committee on NCDs in March 2021 to enhance the response to diabetes and other NCDs.

In 2015, the Statistical Institute of Jamaica reported that an estimated 70 per cent of deaths in the population five years old and above were due to four main NCDs, one of which was diabetes. Other research reveals that Jamaica is projected to lose about $77 billion because of cardiovascular disease and diabetes during the next 10-15 years.

“At the same time, children and youth continue to consume too much sugar. We have heard reports that some 70 per cent of children and youth consume one or more sweetened beverages per day, thereby increasing their risk of obesity and Type 2 Diabetes, as well as hypertension, and even tooth decay. We must work together to solve this problem,” said Bryan.

In observance of Diabetes Awareness Month, being recognised in November, the health ministry will be leading a series of activities under the theme “Education to Protect Tomorrow”.

The campaign aims to raise awareness around healthy lifestyle choices, screening and early detection of diabetes in the general population.

One key strategy is to incorporate children and youth as the messengers and target audience to strengthen the appeal for lifestyle changes in their families and communities, and to promote the adoption of healthy behaviours early in life toward the prevention and control of diabetes.

Among the activities for the month are a mass media campaign, a Diabetes Poster Competition, educational talks within schools, and virtual interactive sessions through workplaces and community groups.

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LETTER: It’s election time again…! Let’s focus on the message rather than focusing on the messenger

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Antigua News Room

Dear Editor,

It is quite evident that election is around the corner. Billboards are being erected and  political talk shows are now blasting on the radios.

Obviously, it’s a sign that the political parties are swinging into high gear to get their messages out to the electorates.

According to my observation, it seems to me that for this election, many of us are focusing more on the messengers’ demeanor, rather than the messages that are disseminating from them.

Of course, let’s us zoom into the two dominant messengers, Gaston Browne and Harold Lovell.

Gaston, seems not to be liked by many. His personal demeanour is perceived to be a bit unpolished. However, behind that trait  and in spite of the uncontrollable challenges that have impacted upon the country, he and his administration is still getting the job done of moving the economy forward.

Undoubtedly, people’s livelihood have been empowered throughout his tenure.

Harold, on the other hand  seems not to be findng the right formula. Many persons have not forgotten the dark days that the country was plunged into during his tenure as Finance minister. Many fear that those dark days will return with him at the helm . Additionally, persons are not yet convince that he has found a solution to take the country to the next level.

As UPP’s leader, the composition of his team that he is proposing to run the affairs of the country, speaks negative of him. The team  is politically inexperienced and intellectually impaired.

To add salt to the wound, it is percieved that the other members within the UPP,   function on a platform of disrespect, hate, bitterness, vile and anger.

For me, it is frightening because it looks as though, for revenge these persons are trying to gain political power by any means necessary. PLM, UNDP, MOVEMENTS, FAITHFUL NATIONALS, & POWA all operated on the same platform. However, they all failed miserably.

So then, why should UPP be seen as any different?  If “Raising our standard & raising it bodly is our national tagline ” then questions are asked

1. Why should UPP be voted into office, since  they don’t respect the Prime Minister?

2. Why should UPP be voted into office, since they show no respect to the female politicians in the current administration?

3. Why should UPP be voted into office when  POWA, a female arm of UPP, keep silent whenever females in ABLP are  verbally abused?

4. Why should UPP be voted into office since they align themselves with a  NIGHT OWL who spews venom & hate and behave out of character on the radio station?

5. Why should UPP be voted into office when one of their former parliamentarian showed no reverence in parliament by sticking up their middle finger to advocate profanity?

6. Why should UPP be voted into office when one of their hierarchy was under a halucination for a gun licence to go around & kill?

7. Why should UPP be voted into office when a former leader in the organization gave  instructions  to chop up tax collectors?

8. Why should UPP be voted into office since one of their members used derogative terms  against our Caricom brothers & sisters referring to them as thieves & paupers?

9. Why should UPP be voted into office when one of their female politician referred to the nation’s elderly as rag tags?

10. Why should UPP be voted into office when UPP candidates act as dictators at radio stations causing  two brilliant youths to resign?

11. Why should UPP be voted into office sincemany of their own stalwarts turn their backs against them?

12. Why should UPP be voted into office when one of their prominent lawyer was ordered by the courts to be relieve of his position because he was deemed too abrasive?

13. Why should UPP be voted into office when it is alledge that a senior citizen is not paid his rent by a UPP candidate?

14. Why should UPP be voted into office when a young innocent girl who was pregnant was shot and killed by a UPP candidate?

15. Why should UPP be voted into office when  the country collapsed under Lovell as Finance minister?

Hell no! We can’t accept UPP again!

Fitzroy

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PM: What is required is a sustaining program to develop more talented and resilient cricketers, starting at the grassroots level

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Antigua News Room

The fundamental problem with West Indies Cricket is not about governance, to include gaps in the management.

What is required is a sustaining program to develop more talented and resilient cricketers, starting at the grassroots level.

This requires cooperation and collaboration of the various governments, territorial boards and Cricket West Indies.

While the need for strengthened governance is acknowledged; this decades old governance scapegoat is a stale and dissipated argumentation of little value.

All this flawed over-emphasis on governance has done, is to create a culture of leadership instability.

Let’s get together as a region and invest in revolutionising our cricket.

Solution-less critical talk is cheap and is certainly not the answer.

The transformation of our cricket requires the cooperation and collaboration of all stakeholders and the requisite strategic investments, to develop more talented and resilient players.

The Prime Minister was responding to this article from Trinidad and Tobago.

HOURS after posting photos of himself with golfing buddy, retired cricket legend Viv Richards, the Prime Minister took to social media on Sunday to call for visionaries and competent management for West Indies cricket following the regional side’s embarrassing exit, at the preliminary qualifying stages, of the just concluded T20 World Cup.

Dr Rowley – cleared of covid19 on Friday after his third infection – said that now that the T20 World Cup is over and the embarrassingly underwhelming performance of West Indies cricket exposed in all its nakedness, there was urgent need for deep reflection.

“What is it about us that after demonstrating our superior playing skills in these colonial and post-colonial islands we cannot now find it within our populations, the business, coaching and management skills to halt the decline of an activity where we dominated the world for a record-breaking almost two decades,” Rowley asked in a post on his Facebook page.

He called for an end to “franchising out our legacy and our future,” adding, “We need visionary and competent management both on and off the field!”

The PM, who up to Friday was in covid19 isolation and answered Prime Minister’s Q&A in the Parliament virtually that day, said there was a need to look for requirements within and embrace and allow WI world-beating ex-players to play a hugely meaningful role across all boundaries within the region.

Firstly, and once again, he said, we must settle and answer the question of “Who owns West Indies cricket?

“It cannot and must not be that this priceless legacy of an entire people is simply available to provide opportunity and a good salary to a few in management and some travelling six-hitters who might be doing well personally even as the game is withering and dying regionally.”

The PM declared: “Enough is enough! If Namibia, Holland, Ireland, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Afghanistan can get it done then Cricket West Indies has a lot to answer for.”

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