PRIME MINISTER DREW STRONGLY CONDEMNS ATTEMPTED BLACKMAIL AND EXTORTION OF SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS

BASSETERRE, Saint Kitts, May 14, 2025 – Prime Minister, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, has strongly condemned what he described as a calculated and malicious attempt to blackmail and extort the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

On the May 13 edition of The Roundtable, Prime Minister Drew revealed that individuals associated with MSR Media, along with local collaborators, approached him with a demand of between US$40 million to $100 million in exchange for suppressing the release of a video aimed at discrediting the country’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme.

“People came to my office asking for 40 to 100 million dollars for that video not to be released,” said Prime Minister Drew. “I told them no. That is extortion. That is blackmail, and [that video] is going to be filled with lies.”

The Prime Minister made it clear that he would not succumb to any threats or coercion, and that no public funds would be used to settle a blatant attempt to undermine the integrity of the country, nor its CBI Programme.

“You’re not going to get one cent out of me,” Dr. Drew affirmed, noting that he has instructed the attorney general to pursue all appropriate legal avenues. He also confirmed that a globally respected international law firm has been retained to address the matter.

“This is a serious, serious matter. This is extortion of a state, of a country,” the prime minister emphasised. “No one has the right to walk into the Prime Minister’s Office to blackmail or extort because you want to bring out a nasty, malicious video to attack our country.”

Prime Minister Dr. Drew further alleged that MSR Media, a company previously involved in local film production, is behind the video and has “bought” individuals within Saint Kitts and Nevis to participate in its scheme.

“This is something that I will fight and fight to the end because the precedent must not be set in Saint Kitts and Nevis that people can walk into the Prime Minister’s Office [and make such demands],” said Dr. Drew. “This will not be allowed to stand.”

Prime Minister Drew reaffirmed his government’s commitment to transparency, good governance, and protecting the national interest. He vowed to pursue this matter to the fullest extent of the law to ensure justice is served.

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