Minister Musa Supports Open Access to Information on Locally Registered Companies

Kareem Musa

We caught up with Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa at an event in Belize City this morning where he responded to questions on the restriction being placed on inquiries into the proprietors and shareholders of registered companies. Practicing attorneys use the system almost daily on behalf of their clients to gather information on certain companies. But since Musa is not practicing, he says he is unaware of the level of access being granted. Notwithstanding his lack of knowledge on the new process, Musa is of the view that the same level of access should be granted.

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“The law firm of Musa and Balderamos did do searches of course, all law firms do company searches. In terms of the new requirements or the new access that will be granted I am told it will the usual information like shareholders, the date of the company’s formation and things like that, but I think that if there is a necessity for us to allow greater access, because I agree with you it should be open and transparent as it has been with local companies then that legislation will have to be looked at again to see how it can be amended to allow for that access because I don’t think that should be the intention to deprive anyone for access.”

Reporter

“How conversant are you with the current legislation that exist?”

Kareem Musa,

“I think we have to certainly create that level of access for you to determine the true beneficial owners of companies. So, like I said, when we see it being put into practice if it is that you are not allowed that type of access to determine true ownership or beneficial ownership, that is something we will have to look at because that is something that is asked even in the court system, who are the true beneficial owners of these companies and like I said, I think the legislation will have to be tweaked or amended to allow that access.”