From Caribbean News Now

DUBAI, UAE – In response to speculation by regional media that defamation proceedings filed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by regional and global citizenship consultants Arton Group against the International Migration Council (IMC), which began in Dubai this week, may somehow reflect negatively on citizenship by investment (CBI) programmes in the Caribbean, the Arton Group refuted this suggestion on Friday.

“We have nothing to add about the legal action in Dubai against the IMC, except to say that it does not affect our relationship with any Caribbean country or CBI programme in any way,” said John Hanafin, chief executive of Arton Capital.

On Wednesday, Observer Media in Antigua reported that it was trying “to ascertain what impact, if any, the legal challenge will have on the country’s reputation or whether Antigua’s CIP will be brought into question as a result of the allegations”.

In the meantime, the court proceedings in Dubai have been adjourned to July 18 to allow one of the defendants to appoint legal counsel and for the court to rule on a question of service of notice on IMC.

On Wednesday, the Arton Group also described other media reporting as “inaccurate, exaggerated and misleading”, this time in relation to a burglary that occurred recently at Arton Capital’s office in Budapest, when it was erroneously reported that millions of euros in cash were stolen.

“We strongly refute the exaggerated claims from local media and for the benefit of our clients and for the safety of our staff, we would like to state that under no circumstances are clients’ investments paid, or held, in cash, in any of Arton group offices, locally or internationally. We would like to stress that all client’s personal information is well protected,” Arton Capital said in a statement.

“The majority of the media reporting has been wildly speculative, inaccurate, and unhelpful. We are the victims of a crime, and our clients and our staff have been subjected to a terrible ordeal. Inaccurate reporting is not serving anybody’s interests,” the statement continued.

Arton Capital said takes its reputation extremely seriously and will take all necessary steps to correct falsehoods and protect its hard-won reputation for trust and diligence.

“The founders of the company are committed to driving forward the highest standards of best practice, regulation, and governance for the citizenship industry. We respect the legislation in each country where we operate, and will take all necessary steps against anybody who publishes false information about Arton Capital,” the statement concluded.

The Arton Group of companies is a Canadian group that has partnered with the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis and Saint Lucia, along with other countries around the world, in relation to their citizenship by investment programmes, as well as advising more than 5,000 investors on investment programmes that empower global citizenship.

For more on this story go to: http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/topstory-Defamation-claim-in-Dubai-does-not-affect-Caribbean%2C-say-regional-citizenship-consultants-34991.html