Parliamentarians Gather to Meet E.U.’s Deadline

Dean Barrow

A string of important pieces of legislation was passed today by the House of Representatives to meet a deadline imposed by the European Union. The bills were passed to get rid of the blacklisting by the E.U. which placed Belize on the list in March, stating that Belize was a tax haven. The EU says that Belize has significant shortfalls when it comes to laws that favor tax invasion. With the legislation passed, the shortfalls are wiped out and the E.U. will recognize Belize as a cooperative jurisdiction. The passage of the bills was supported by both sides of the aisle. 

Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“There is consultant Mister Wayne Snider who has been assisting us during the entire dialogue and in fact in terms of the drafting of the legislation, the amendments that are required. Mister Snider is going to be available to the house committee to which this and the other bills be referred and to the committee of the whole in the event that there are questions that members will have. I do know that Mister Snider has been in close contact with the Leader of the Opposition and I believe that the leader arranged for him to meet with the leader’s caucus so I don’t think that anyone can fairly claim to be blinded sided. It is of course not the optimum situation that very, very important and  very technical legislation like this one and the other should be passed all at once but I am afraid that the deadline that the E.U. has imposed on us it is that we have been left with no choice and therefore I ask that this be taken through all its stages this day. 

John Briceño, Leader of the Opposition

“I have met with Mister Snider a few times along with members of the offshore practitioners and they have gone through the proposed bills. Whilst they are not happy but they understand that we don’t really much of an option.”