Ministers attending the Third United Kingdom-Caribbean Ministerial Forum held in Guyana last week, supported the stand taken at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in March, calling for a *”level playing field”* in connection with the Global Forum on Harmful Tax Practices spearheaded by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
As at CHOGM in Australia, the Ministers have stated that the standards and timelines for non-OECD jurisdictions should be *”no more onerous than those for OECD members.”*
The Bahamas was represented at these recent meetings held in Georgetown, and during the 3-day event participated in discussions on topics such as international developments, regional security, trade and sustainable development, administration of justice, and finance and investment. On this last issue, Caribbean Ministers noted that jurisdictions in the region will face increased costs as a consequence of the implementation of some aspects of the OECD’s initiative. The UK reaffirmed its commitment to support Caribbean-led initiatives to address the challenges facing the region.
The UK-Caribbean Ministerial Forum was designed to enhance and develop the long-standing and special relationship between the UK and Caribbean Governments, to discuss issues of common concern, and to set strategic priorities for further cooperation. At this most recent meeting, the Ministers highlighted the continuing importance of their relationship in a globalised and interdependent world.