(Antigua Observer) Prime Minister Gaston Browne has dismissed fears that the resignation of the two most senior persons at the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) will have a negative fallout for the Citizen by Investment Programme (CIP).

Acting CEO Thomas Anthony’s resignation comes on the heels of the resignation of the unit’s former CEO, Chisanga Chekwe. Asked if the two resignations could damage the programme, Browne was firm.

“Absolutely not. There is nothing that they brought to the table that our new CIU CEO cannot do better,” Browne said.

Antigua and Barbuda national Charmaine Quinland-Donovan was appointed the new CEO and her post takes effect on Monday, March 27.

She comes in at a time when Browne has fiercely rebuffed a US report, which referred to the programme as being “among the most lax in the world”.

The prime minister has refused to comment on the reasons for Anthony’s resignation, and Anthony has also refused to comment.