The Jersey Financial Services Commission and the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority yesterday announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU establishes a formal framework for mutual assistance and the exchange of information between each regulator to facilitate the enforcement of, and secure compliance with, the laws and regulations of each jurisdiction. … Read More
Tax Co-operation
Netherlands Antilles Signs Information Exchange Agreements
The Netherlands Antilles has signed bilateral agreements with **Australia** and with **New Zealand** for the exchange of information for tax purposes. The agreements were signed on behalf of their respective countries by Mr. Alex Rosaria, State Secretary of Finance of the Netherlands Antilles, Mr. Peter Dutton, Australian Minister for Revenue & Assistant Treasurer, and Mr. … Read More
Model Tax Convention Modified
The OECD’s Committee on Fiscal Affairs has agreed to modify the OECD **Model Tax Convention**, which serves as a basis for most negotiations between countries on tax matters, by including the possibility of arbitration in cross-border disputes if they remain unresolved for more than two years. A new OECD report, ***“Improving the Resolution of Tax … Read More
TIEA Signed between Antigua and Barbuda and Australia
Antigua and Barbuda and Australia have signed a bilateral agreement on the exchange of information for tax purposes. A release from the OECD notes that this *“marks another step forward in international efforts to implement the principles of transparency and exchange of information for tax purposes on a global basis.”* Paolo Ciocca, Chairman of the … Read More
OECD To Publish Global Forum Report
In Paris today, the OECD announced that it will publish its latest Report on international co-operation on transparency and exchange of information in tax matters next week. Entitled *“Tax Co-operation: Towards a Level Playing Field – 2006 Assessment by the Global Forum on Taxation”*, the report reviews legal and administrative frameworks in more than 80 … Read More
Global Forum Reports on Progress and Next Steps
The OECD’s Global Forum on Taxation has concluded its fourth meeting in Melbourne, Australia, and issued a Statement on the outcome of its review of the progress towards a level playing field based on *”high standards of transparency and effective exchange of information for tax purposes.”* The review was undertaken in accordance with a process … Read More
OECD Model Tax Convention
The OECD today published a 2005 edition of its Model Tax Convention. This Convention is used by OECD and other countries as a basis for the *”negotiation, application and interpretation of bilateral tax treaties”*, of which there are reportedly more than 2500 in force around the world. The OECD updates the Model periodically to take … Read More
The Hon. K. Peter Turnquest was born on August 22nd, 1964 in the Bahamas and earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from Prairie View A&M University, and his MBA from Nova Southeastern University. He is a Certified Public Accountant and has been in public and private practice for over 30 years in the area of financial accounting and reporting, audit, corporate services, merges & acquisitions, receiverships and liquidations. Mr. Turnquest has had wide business experience having led international sales and manufacturing operations in several countries.
A former Attorney-General of The Bahamas and one of Her Majesty’s Queens Counsel, John’s practice concentration are financial services law and regulation, corporate governance, business restructuring & insolvency, and commercial litigation. He has also been advisor in several major acquisitions and mergers within The Bahamas, and also in acquisitions by or mergers with regional entities.
The Honourable Brent Symonette presently serves as the Minister of Financial Services, Trade & Industry and Immigration. In May 2017, Minister Symonette was elected as the Member of Parliament representing the constituency of St. Anne’s, Nassau, N.P., The Bahamas. An alumnus of Brunel University in Middlesex, England, he graduated with a BSc (Hons.) in Law and Political Science. He is a Barrister-at-Law having been called to the Bahamas Bar in 1978. Mr. Symonette is a respected and experienced politician having served in many governmental capacities for approximately thirty (30) years. His political career began in 1987 where he was appointed to the Senate of The Bahamas serving in this capacity for two consecutive five year terms. In 2002, he was elected as the Member of Parliament for the Montagu Constituency. During his parliamentary career he served as Minister of Tourism and Attorney General, Deputy Leader of the Free National Movement Party (FNM), Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration.
Valdez K. Russell serves as the principal of VKR Insights, a communications and reputation management agency. Throughout his professional career, Valdez has been instrumental in facilitating public relations and communication strategies to help individuals and organizations to build relationships and influence change.
Diego Zuluaga is a policy analyst at the Cato Institute’s Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives, where he covers financial technology and consumer credit. Before joining Cato, Zuluaga was Head of Financial Services and Tech Policy at the Institute of Economic Affairs in London. While at the IEA, he authored papers on the social value of finance, the role of offshore centers, the regulation of online platforms, and the taxation of capital income, among others. His work has been featured in print and broadcast media, such as the Times, Newsweek, and the Daily Telegraph. Zuluaga is a prolific public speaker as well as a former lecturer in economics at the University of Buckingham.
Ms. Christina R. Rolle is the Executive Director of the Securities Commission of The Bahamas, having been appointed effective 26 January 2015. Ms. Rolle has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. Over the course of her career, Ms. Rolle has acted as Director and Deputy CEO for a prominent international private bank and held various senior managerial positions with local and other international institutions including Head of Trust and Fiduciary, Head of Risk, Compliance and Corporate Governance and Manager of Banking Services.
Mr. James H. Smith is currently in retirement since June, 2007. Before then, he served in Parliament as a Senator and in the Cabinet of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas as the Minister of State for Finance during the period 2002 to 2007.
Llewellyn Boyer-Cartwright is a partner in Callenders & Co., The Bahamas’ oldest law firm and recipient of numerous international awards of recognition including the Corporate International Global Award.
Michael Allen has professional expertise in corporate and commercial law, including derivatives law as it relates to the participation by Bahamian entities in financial derivatives transactions, real estate & development, aviation law and wealth management.
Linda Beidler-D’Aguilar joined Glinton Sweeting O’Brien as a partner in July 2015. In her practice she specializes in the structuring and creation of vehicles (including investment funds) for multinational institutional clients as well as private clients; she also advises on corporate transactions, securities law (including public and private offerings) as well as general commercial matters.
Ryan Pinder has been a partner in the law firm of Graham Thompson since January 2016. His practice areas include banking law, corporate and commercial law, investment funds, securities law, capital markets, trusts and estate planning and structuring. He specialises in financial services solutions, planning and wealth management for high net worth individuals and families, and their associated companies and businesses throughout the world.