Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith last night December 21, 2015 announced that the blacklist imposed by France in 2013 has been lifted. Photo: VINO

In April this year, Financial Secretary Neil M. Smith had said at a press conference that France had at that time been pleased with the progress that the territory had been making to get itself in order. Photo: VINO/File

Smith had said that out of 119 requests that the VI has received, “We have answered about 116 and we are in the process of answering others.” Photo: Provided

Governor of the Virgin Islands John S. Duncan OBE had in November 2014 told this news site that as far as he is aware, the French government was at that time allegedly satisfied that the complaints they had about speedy response from the Territory regarding financial services have been addressed. Photo: VINO

He made the announcement shortly before the end of the sitting around midnight last night during the Fifth Sitting of the First Session of the Second House of Assembly.

“I would like to say that I got the very good news this evening that the BVI has been removed from the French blacklist and again, I want to express my gratitude to the persons who have been so engaged in that area, particularly the staff of the International Tax Authority,” said Premier Smith.

He said that body worked very hard to ensure that the territory was fulfilling all requirements with its Tax Information Agreement “so that we were able to be recognised by the French government, improve what we do and that they were satisfied with the progress that we had made, and that we were taken off the blacklist.”

Virgin Islands News Online has so far not been able to source any document online supporting Premier Smith's claims.

In April this year, Financial Secretary Neil M. Smith had said at a press conference that France had at that time been pleased with the progress that the territory had been making to get itself in order.

'The French are really pleased'

“To answer the question which I guess everybody wants to hear, what I can say is that on a technical level the French are really pleased with us. But I cannot advise you on the other level that we need to get to in order to get off the list which is the political level,” said Smith at the April 23, 2015 press conference.

Smith had said that out of 119 requests that the VI has received, “We have answered about 116 and we are in the process of answering others.”

Governor of the Virgin Islands John S. Duncan OBE had in November 2014 told this news site that as far as he is aware, the French government was at that time allegedly satisfied that the complaints they had about speedy response from the Territory regarding financial services have been addressed.

Further, he had said he believes that the blacklist by France of the Territory's financial services was unfair.

"I hope the French will lift the blacklist by the end of this year," he said during the interview. "I think BVI in my personal view has been unfairly cited. I think we are a well-regulated Territory," he had said.

The VI was in late 2013 placed on a financial services blacklist by France, for which the National Democratic Party (NDP) blamed the former Virgin Islands Party administration which had left office in November 2011.