UK's Jeremy B. Corbyn's call for direct rule a serious one – Hon Fraser
"I have read Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn's call 'for the UK government to consider imposing "direct rule" on British overseas territories and dependencies if they do not comply with UK tax law', and I note that he is not just another Parliamentarian," said Honourable Fraser in a comment to this news site last evening April 6, 2016.
According to Honourable Fraser, the call is a serious one, and is not to be taken lightly.
“I would refer only to the words of Deputy Premier Dr The Hon. Kedrick D. Pickering in his contribution to the 2016 Budget Debate just last Wednesday, which is a matter of public record, where he said, 'we might wake up one morning and the Minister of Finance is not the Premier'. He went on to cite the unilateral decision by the UK Government to amendment our/the Constitution in order to make possible the appointment of two Junior Ministers. His point was, for us to always remain mindful of the powers of the UK Government. As to my opinion on the matter, I consider it highly inappropriate at this time from where I sit to comment any further,” said Honourable Fraser.
Hope consistency remains - Premier Smith
Speaking to this news site today April 7, 2016, Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith said, "In January 2016, we were pleased that the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Fabian Hamilton MP, reaffirmed the Labour Party’s official policy of supporting the UK Overseas Territories’ right to self-governance, self-determination, and commitment to defending the wishes of the people of the Overseas Territories.
“I hope that the Labour Party and other parties in the UK Parliament will remain consistent with this message and in their support for the territories' self determination and the continued growth and development as was enunciated earlier,” he said.
Direct rule if OTs non-compliant with tax laws
According to a BBC article, Corbyn said that the UK government should consider imposing "direct rule" on British overseas territories and dependencies if they do not comply with UK tax law.
This call came following a huge data leak from Panama-based Mossack Fonseca which showed the law firm registered more than 100,000 secret firms to the Virgin Islands.
Mr Corbyn said their governments must understand the "anger" of Britons. The article said too that Downing Street said the UK was "ahead of the pack" on tax transparency.
Eleven million leaked documents showed how Mossack Fonseca clients were able to launder money, dodge sanctions and avoid tax - the law firm says it has operated beyond reproach for 40 years, according to the article.
There are links to 12 current or former heads of state in the data, including dictators accused of looting their own countries, the article said.
Reaction around the world includes crowds gathering outside Iceland's parliament demanding Prime Minister Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson step down over allegations he concealed investments in an offshore company; close relatives of seven current or former Chinese leaders have been found to have links to offshore firms, the Australian Tax Office (ATO) is investigating more than 800 individual taxpayers, all residents of Australia, the US Department of Justice is reviewing the leaked documents to look for evidence of corruption that could be prosecuted in the US, the Wall Street Journal reports, France and Spain are investigating money laundering exposed by the leaks among their resident taxpayers.
Leaked files also mention UK Prime Minister David Cameron's late father, Ian, who used one of the most secretive tools of the offshore trade after he helped set up a fund for investors.
However, the article said that Downing Street sources told the BBC Mr Cameron did not have any shares in Blairmore Holdings, the Panama-based company Ian Cameron helped set up in 1982.
The sources are not saying that other members of the Cameron family do not own shares in the offshore firm, however.
'Honey pots of corruption'
A number of British overseas territories and Crown dependencies are named in the files raising the question of what the UK can do about them.
These are self-governing territories which rely on the UK for international relations and defence, but their autonomy can be removed, as in the case of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The UK government imposed direct rule on the Caribbean islands for three years after evidence was found of widespread corruption among the ruling elite.
It was only after the Turks and Caicos government implemented rules around sharing tax information that home rule was restored in 2012.
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11 Responses to “UK's Jeremy B. Corbyn's call for direct rule a serious one – Hon Fraser”
Of course, there may be a transition and as good parents the Brits would probably want to ensure that the BVI has the structure in place to work as an independent nation (after all, the UK is not Belgium), but if that is the people's real desire then it could happen. Just don't underestimate the impact on financial services if you lose the prized perception of being backed by English law and judicial system but without suffering an additional layer of tax.
I say bring it on, finally!!!
people and property of the world, just like their bastard child the United States. So uncivilized. Perhaps this would
be a good time for extraterrestrials to 'drop in' so to speak.
1. From where did the British get the Bible they first printed in 1611?
2. From where did the Queen get all those Crown Jewels?
3. What did the U.K. pay the people of Africa for the artifacts they house in their museums?
4. Why did King James have to sanction a Bible borrowed from the Ancient Egyptians history?
5. Why did the U.K. preach brotherhood and yet enslaved our African Brothers?
6. Why is the U.K. holding on to these islands? Enjoyed King sugar days?
We got the real sugar for you now. Come nuh! People who couldn't make it in their country trying to come here to rule us? Haul tail back to those 300-year old flats. We will survive.