SVG not looking to attract investors that are candidates for sainthood or papacy – PM Gonsalves

When it comes to attracting investors, this country’s prime minister is not looking for candidates for sainthood, or the papacy.{{more}}

Dr Ralph Gonsalves made the declaration last week, during a press conference while discussing the Harlequin Hotels and Resorts and its Chairman David Ames.

Ames and Harlequin, have, according to international media reports, been, within recent times, the subject of investigations in the United Kingdom.

Gonsalves told members of the media that some people were of the opinion that investors needed to be clean, and “the purest of the pure”.

“I am not looking for the purest of the pure, nor candidates for the papacy,” Gonsalves said.

“What I am looking for are people who don’t break the law of the land, I want investors to come here who are not involved in drugs, money laundering,” or use the proceeds of their business to finance terrorism the prime minister explained.

Foreign investors ought to respect traditions and customs and be respectful to the people and be good corporate citizens, he said.

“But you can’t look for the holier than thou,” Gonsalves reasoned.

“I expect any investor who comes here will do so to aggressively make money,” he said.

Gonsalves said investors are taking risks; it is not a foregone conclusion that they will make money.

He used the comparison with local businessmen saying that there are those who have a love for country and follow the laws, but they are there to make money for themselves, or their families in the case of family businesses.(DD)