The Netherlands cannot do much about black lists

January 21, 2009 10:07 AM

The Antilles do no longer belong on the balck lists of tax paradises, says the Dutch state secretary of Finance, Jan Kees de Jager (CDA) in a conversation with the Wereldomroep. De Jager is currently making a tour of the Antilles and Aruba.  The subject came up during his visit with finance-minister Ersilia de Lannooy (PNP).

The Antilles are for a long time pressing the Netherlands to take them off the lists and to develop the international financial service further, but The Hague cannot do much about this.  “During a recent encounter on tax havens in Paris, I indicated that the Neth.Antilles are on the right path and do not belong on black lists.”

The Antilles are still on the black lists of approximately 12 countries, including some in Europe, but that is not completely certain, because there is no automatic reporting on this.  Via the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OESO), De Jager tries to officially as well as diplomatically spread the message that the Antilles are no longer a tax haven.  He says that playing it this way is more effective that via the European Union.

He knows that as long as the Antilles are on such list somewhere, entering tax treaties is difficult for them.  Those treaties are important to bring more financial services to Curacao.  “That gives certainty that there is no double taxation”, said De Jager.  He concludes his tour in Aruba, where he also discussed customs and fiscal legislation with Finance-minister Nilo Swaen (MEP) and Tax Inspection.  He is furthermore going to meet with the Aruban governor Fredis Refunjol.

(Source: National newspaper Amigoe)

20 January, 2009