Prime Minister Pierre made this CIP/Education announcement at a cheque-handing ceremony which saw over 100 Early Childhoo Development Centres receive $2500 from the government and boasted of another Budget promise fulfilled.

This time, CIP will sponsor a sum of money towards every child attending privately-owned early childhood centres for this coming semester.

“I have pledged $50 towards school fees for every child attending a privately-owned Early Childhood Centre for this term. Over 2600 children will benefit from this initiative to be funded by the Citizenship Investment Programme,” said Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre.

Of late, the Opposition United Workers’ Party, alongside St. Kitts-based CIP Agent Philippe Martinez, has alleged financial misgivings within the CIP.

Martinez has filed a lawsuit in US Court against Kittian officials and the CEO of Saint Lucia’s CIP, McClaude Emmanuel. 

Martinez claims, among other things, that Saint Lucia’s CIP negatively impacted his business prospects.

Prime Minister Pierre, who dispelled these allegations, pledged that for the first time in Saint Lucia CIP history, earnings will be used to finance capital projects.

These past few months saw the announcement CIP-funded housing projects and a CIP-funded multimillion-dollar investment in OKEU Hospital.

Meanwhile, Kittian media outlets are reporting that a CIP Agent named in Martinez’s lawsuit is suing for defamation.