Business, Crime/Justice, International news, Local news

US slams St Kitts-Nevis in money laundering and financial crimes report

Published on March 29, 2017

By LK Hewlett

BASSETERRE, St Kitts (WINN) — A US State Department report claims that St Kitts and Nevis “remains susceptible to corruption and money laundering and its deficient vetting of citizenship by investment candidates is also problematic”.

The scathing report, released in March, attributes the country’s susceptibility to corruption and money laundering to “the high volume of narcotics trafficking around the islands”.

On the matter of alleged weaknesses with the St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment (CBI) program, the State Department said, “St Kitts and Nevis derives a significant portion of its revenue from its program offering citizenship through investment; however, this program’s prior lax vetting created anti money laundering and security vulnerabilities domestically and internationally. Despite recent efforts to improve the application process and vetting procedures, the CIP continues to be afflicted by significant deficiencies in vetting candidates and conducting due diligence on passport and citizenship recipients after they receive citizenship.”

The report went on to charge that St Kitts and Nevis did not report passage of new enforcement legislation or prosecutions in 2016, and there have been no money laundering prosecutions or convictions since 2013.

The US government did acknowledge the fact that its Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is engaging St Kitts and Nevis to evaluate if recent CBI improvements sustainably address US anti-money laundering and countering financing of terrorism concerns.

The report was also critical of the offshore sector in Nevis, saying financial oversight in Nevis remains problematic due to the federation allowing the creation of anonymous accounts, strong bank secrecy laws, and overall lack of transparency of beneficial ownership of legal entities.

It read, “The ambiguous regulatory framework regarding customer due diligence makes Nevis a desirable location for criminals to conceal proceeds.”

The US government advised that the government of St Kitts and Nevis should work toward transparency and accountability in financial regulation; and promote close supervision of the CBI program and be transparent in reporting monitoring results.

Republished with permission of West Indies News Network

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Crime/Justice, Local news, News

Young man killed in Newton Ground

Published 30 March
Basseterre, St. Kitts- The federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has recorded another homicide with the shooting death of an individual  in Newton Ground on Tuesday evening shortly after 9:00p.m.
Details surrounding the incident are still sketchy, but The Observer has confirmed the name of the individual as Akeem ‘Ratty’ Bryan. Police are investigating the matter.
This is the sixth homicide for 2017 and the third since Saturday night.

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Crime/Justice, Local news

ONLINE VIGILANCE IS BEST WAY TO PREVENT CYBERCRIMES, SAYS COMMISSIONER QUEELEY

Published 30 March 2017

ONLINE VIGILANCE IS BEST WAY TO PREVENT CYBERCRIMES, SAYS COMMISSIONER QUEELEY

Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 27, 2017 (RSCNPF): Commissioner of Police Mr. Ian M. Queeley is underscoring the need for internet users to be vigilant and protect themselves from becoming victims of Cybercrimes.

This warning comes on the heels of increased phishing activity in the last few days where internet users in St. Kitts and Nevis have seen an increase in attempts made by persons using duplicate “fake accounts” to capture information from individuals posing as friends, requesting that they participate in an opportunity to receive funds from a United Nations Democracy Fund. There is no such fund in existence.

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Crime/Justice, News, Regional News

Estranged lover disguises as female, douses woman with acid

Published 30 March 2017

Buckie Got It….this happen early this year

Estranged lover disguises as female, douses woman with acid
Jan 21, 2017
Months after ending an abusive relationship, a 26-year-old woman is now a patient at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital after being doused with a corrosive substance on Thursday evening.
Shondel Williamson of New Street, New Amsterdam, a mother of two boys – aged six and three – is said to be in a stable but critical condition.
According to police officials, the woman suffered first degree burns to her face, hands and abdomen. She is also unable to open her left eye, and it is unclear if the eye was damaged.
A close relative told Kaieteur News that at around 8pm on Thursday, the woman was returning home and noticed a man clad in women’s clothing coming towards her direction.

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Crime/Justice, Local news, News

Premier of Nevis issues statement on the death of Randell Chapman of Rawlins Village

Published 29 March 2017

Press Release

NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (March 28, 2017) — The following is a statement by Hon. Vance Amory, Premier of Nevis, Minister responsible for Security and Area Representative for the St. Georges Parish, on the death of Randell Chapman of Rawlins Village in the Parish of St Georges

Over the weekend, we were shocked by the news of the brutal shooting/killing of one of our young men from the Rawlins area. I have expressed to the family my condolences but speaking as the representative of the area and the Minister responsible for Security in Nevis, it is painful that we are still experiencing this wanton slaying and loss of life.

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