Philippe Martinez of MSR Media has claimed that Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre sought a monetary settlement for the RICO case in the U.S., which names Mc Claude Emmanuel, CEO of Saint Lucia’s Citizenship By Investment Program (CIP), as a defendant. Martinez revealed this on DBS Television and plans to add more Saint Lucians as defendants, including Investment Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire.
Martinez presented an email indicating settlement discussions involving public funds, stating his lawyers were contacted by Emmanuel’s attorney on behalf of Pierre. Martinez demanded $9 million for removing Hilaire and Emmanuel from the case, but later heard the payment could not be justified from public funds. He clarified he would not accept taxpayer money.
Prime Minister Pierre denied knowledge of the settlement talks and urged that the matter be resolved in court. He criticized the claims as a distraction and stated that any fraud by his ministers would be addressed legally. Hilaire and others deny any wrongdoing. The government accuses Martinez of conspiring with the opposition, which both deny.
Source/Photo Credit: Loop St Lucia
