CIG delegation heads to UK for JMC

| 24/11/2017 | 34 Comments

(CNS): Premier Alden McLaughlin and a team of six local officials left for London Friday to attend what could turn out to be an important Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council meeting of the leaders of the British territories and UK Officials. Topics on the agenda include tax transparency, beneficial ownership and the EU’s proposed list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions, which is due out on 5 December. Other topics include Brexit, UK programme support for the overseas territories, hurricane relief and recovery for those jurisdictions hit this season, as well as climate change and environment. 

As well as the meetings between British officials and the territories leaders at the JMC, the premier will will have a bilateral meeting with Lord Ahmad, Britain’s overseas territories minister, to discuss matters of mutual importance to the UK and the Cayman Islands. The Cayman delegation is also expecting to have separate meetings and discussions with EU officials over the proposed European Union listing of non-cooperative jurisdictions.

Towards the end of the trip on Thursday night, 30 November, McLaughlin will host a dinner for the Friends of Cayman, and on Saturday, 2 December, he will host a reception for Caymanian students studying in the United Kingdom.

Financial Services Minister Tara Rivers is accompanying the premier, along with Cabinet Secretary Samuel Rose, Chief Officer Dax Basdeo, Senior Legislative Policy Advisor André Ebanks, Joint Ministerial Council “Sherpa” Jason Webster, and Senior Political Advisor to the Premier Roy Tatum.

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Comments (34)

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  1. A says:

    The EU is failing. It will fall apart shortly. Bye Bye

  2. Anonymous says:

    Brexit means the BOTs are toast with the EU. The UK can’t do anything.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Alden admitted as much with his little rant today.

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    • Anonymous says:

      So long as you are not blacklisted by the US and UK you will be ok. In the end no one outside the EU is going to be cooperative with EU desires.

  3. Anonymous says:

    @ Anonymous says:
    26/11/2017 at 4:44 pm,

    You can remain crippled in fear by a 60 year old mindset if you want – but some of us choose to believe it is 2017 (almost 2018) out there.

    As for “no natural resources” – again, you are showing your ignorance and outdated indoctrination.
    (Every individual reason that attracts every one of our millions of annual visitors is a natural resource.)

    Kindly update your perspective before engaging in dialogue with an enlightened individual.

    – Whodatis

    * If the guarantee of a similarly woeful reality is what awaits a newly-independent formerly British country as those of the mid 1900’s, frankly that is all the evidence required to prove we are on a losing team.

    Yes, we are clearly on different plains of thought.

    I prefer mine – however, you are free to cuddle your mental chains.
    Sad.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Oh Who,
      Misled with your egotistical claims of “enlightenment”, continue to discount any contradictory evidence as indoctrination. We are all very familiar with your clear confirmation bias but alas, you know all and are the definitive source of all knowledge and any opposing viewpoint is simply conjecture it would appear. Comparing and mentioning the decolonization of Africa and the other Caribbean jurisdictions was meant as an indication as to the outcome of our removal from “Mother” simply as a warning and an example for the possible (and the probable). Of course, different time, different era, and adjustments should be made for today’s world but should we not take not of the past and the errors of our former colonial brothers? One could say that Cayman is a unique example and perhaps that is a logical assumption but take a look at the trend of microstates and island nations (specifically former colonies not Andora or Liechtenstein). Hence the portion of the comment that says “If you want to gamble go to Las Vegas” because that is exactly what it is and some of us aren’t comfortable putting the fate of our homes and livelihood on the line for your little thought experiments and delusions of democratic grandeur. Not every liberated colony (or group of colonies) turns into a world superpower contrary to what you seem to believe, and more likely than not they either remain in a similar status (to prior independence) or slowly trend toward poverty and corruption and downward pointing economic indicators (look at the rest of the Caribbean even in the modern day). Though as you put it feel free to continue being an egotistical faux-intellectual.

      Our “natural resources” that you somehow feel confident in basing our ability to succeed on as an independent nation are held hostage by the regular occurrence of natural disasters in the region. As you seem to define it our latitude, beaches, dive sites, warm weather and sunlight are our natural resources but they are not unique to Cayman. They are semi-ubiquitous resources and attractions at best. Cayman isn’t the only island with nice beaches or tropical weather, don’t act as if they are some refined final good or product. Let one strong or particularly devastating hurricane happen to pass over these islands and we will see just how much Cayman can depend on tourism and our “natural resources”, you forgot Ivan already Who? Next time we run into economic hardships, you should bottle up and sell our all our sunlight and all our sandy beaches to the nonexistent tourists who will avoid these islands like the plague.
      Our features attract visitors yes, but the value derived from the features depends on the demand from visitors, not any innate market value or objective measure that benefits these islands should disaster strike.

      I noticed you said nothing about the unqualified persons who would easily be elected into newly created independent positions, probably because you know it is true though I wouldn’t put it past arguing against concrete point. In case you try, let me remind you a former Radio talk show host, pharmacist and Real Estate
      Moving on to your use of fear as some sort of negative, there is absolutely nothing wrong with being apprehensive especially in the case of something as unpredictable as declaring independence and taking up the mantle of actual Independent leadership. Look at this weekends events if you want to see just how the lack of fear allows people to act. Fear in multiple forms and within reason is appropriate and necessary for a healthy society whether it is fear of punishment for breaking laws or the fear of the unknown preventing unnecessary risks. For one who claims to be so knowledgeable you ought to know just how useful fear is for the propagation of our species in all it’s forms (take from that what you will).

      Also, since you seem to be in the business of being a smartass learn the difference between “plane” and “plain”. Maybe you can attempt to break free from the chains of hubris and faux-intellect while you update your working draft of pretentious self-inflating depictions

      Sad

      *Honestly, I wasn’t going to even bother replying to you because we all know how you stay, and quite honestly the more someone speaks (or types in this instance) the more chances someone else has to rip their argument apart but I just couldn’t let your bullshit slide, even if you take the opportunity to pick at my comment*

      **I’ll take my rational thought process and “mental chains” any day over the snake oil you sell to yourself and small groups of others in the comments**

  4. Anonymous says:

    What happened to the Benefical Ownersip Register, was it not meant to be up and running months ago.
    No wonder this dippy government may end up getting the island on the list absolutely clueless

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    • Anonymous says:

      Cayman’s elite lobbied hard on beneficial registers to keep its shady deals secret so that the rich and powerful could continue to exploit the poor using tax havens. The Paradise Papers and Brexit together mean that what was good enough to appease complaints a few months ago will not work after 5 December.

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      • Anonymous says:

        10.40, you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. If you want money laundering now you go to Puerto Rico, Delaware or Nevada…

      • Anonymous says:

        Paradise Papers were a complete damp squid, no offences disclosed. Cayman only got a very minor mention and the reporting is now no where to be found.

  5. satirony says:

    I would have had some confidence had Wayne Panton been with the delegation, but the country couldn’t stand the fact he did a brilliant job while in office, like Marco Archer. (“Environment? Yeh, yeh! We’ve got one of those, but we’re trying to get rid of it. You want one? It’s going cheap.”)

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  6. Anonymous says:

    EU delegation “We are blacklisting tax havens”

    Cayman delegation “Phew! We were worried for a while.”

    EU delegation “You are top of the list. And you don’t have the Brits to argue for you anymore”

    Cayman delegation “We are a transparent tax neutral jurisdiction with the highest standards of regulation.”

    EU delegation “Goodbye. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out”

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  7. Anonymous says:

    Lend ’em a dollar or two while you’re there.
    Actually, just give it to them. They won’t be able to repay for another 30 years anyway.

    What an absolute circus of a situation.

    The currency of past glory is only valued by the blind and ignorant.
    Let us cut away from this quickly sinking flagship and save our (own) souls.

    – Who

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    • Anonymous says:

      Independence always seems great, till it is achieved.
      Look at the remnants of colonial Africa, corrupt government led by strongmen and the far religious right (guess you wouldn’t really mind the latter)
      Look at the rest of the Caribbean, poverty stricken, reeling from natural disasters and begging the world for aid

      Are we really meant to believe that we will be the exception to the rule? An island with little to no natural resources, nothing of any real value other than a service industry that could easily be relocated to one of many other jurisdictions at a moments notice.
      Are we going to take a gamble letting persons who can get 300 votes from ill-informed and apathetic voting populous actually run these islands with no oversight from an organized and established jurisdiction such as the UK.
      Every country has its ups and downs, just because the UK is currently in a trough doesn’t mean that we should abandon ship and float on an appealing wooden door.

      I’d rather keep the devil I know, thanks but no thanks, If you want to gamble go to Las Vegas

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      • Unison says:

        But it doesn’t stop us from making alliances with sovereign countries ? We have a name and a name goes places too. I don’t think anyone is recommending an irresponsible move towards Independence.

        But if we keep allowing “them” to constantly threaten us to be unethical, disclose private information, and interfere with our global clientele as a renown OFC, why… oh why should we put up with this bullying??? ?

        We brag how our fishermen of old when sailing in unchartered waters, possessed bravery and courage to sail alone. They ventured out to do the right thing, and THEY CAME HOME SAME WAY WITH LOTS OF FISH!

        Its leaders we need –
        not cowards!

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        • Anonymous says:

          That’ll work just great. Sure it will. Good luck with that one. Why not build a few space stations on Cayman too, because that is a more credible business plan.

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    • Jotnar says:

      Looking forward to that EU blacklist, closely followed by an OECD one without wider international support? Do a lot of good for your soul – bit less for the engine that drives the economy.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Yet the UK secretly intends to transform itself to an “on steroids” version of the Cayman Islands IF the grave mistake of the xenophobia-induced Brexit becomes a reality.

        – Who

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    • Anonymous says:

      UK finances would be better if parasitic tax havens like the Caymans did not steal income by sheltering the capital and income of the rich.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Blame your fellow UK citizens and elite for the woeful state of your national finances – not “the Caymans”.

        If you do happen to swing by, one quick tour of the island-nation will confirm we are not basking in the glory of ill-gotten riches.

        In fact, it seems like the healthier our financial industry, the unhealthier our people and welfare.

        Very odd, innit?

        – Who

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        • Anonymous says:

          The Caymans are enablers to the theft of billions from the poor. Parasites.

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          • Anonymous says:

            You’re clueless. The rich will do whatever they can to avoid paying taxes, regardless of where they live. Fix the tax laws in your country, the true source of enabling the very behavior you are complaining about. Cayman is not in a position to police the rich in foreign countries and their tactics. Do you get it now?

          • Anonymous says:

            Tax avoidance is legal in your country, fool.

        • Anonymous says:

          What an odd person. Your logic is like blaming the junkies not the dealers.

  8. Anonymous says:

    No point our representative clowns talking about the environment, they don’t give a damn. A point reflected in the disgustingly poorly funded DOE. Let’s hope the UK force CIG to pay up and stand up for our environment.

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  9. West bay Premier says:

    He is just gone left the Island to hide and make the tunnel syndrome calm down .

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  10. Anonymous says:

    As a result of Brexit Cayman has virtually no defence to the EU blacklisting it.

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    • Anonymous says:

      The UK is still in the EU, it can veto our inclusion if it wants.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Nonsense. UK’s voting powers ceased upon service of the Artilce 50 notice. It no longer participates in the process.

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      • Anonymous says:

        The UK has no say in EU decisions anymore. Participation in decision making ends when a notice to leave is given not when a nation in fact leaves two years later.

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  11. Anonymous says:

    You mean dear Austin didn’t get to go this time?

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    • Anonymous says:

      No he too busy disagreeing with the government and playing cheerleader for them at the same time. Boy must be bipolar or confused

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