A&F President Says Washington Trip 'Not A Jolly'

by Amanda Banks, Tax-News.com, London

02 October 2002

President of Guernsey's Advisory and Finance Committee, Deputy Laurie Morgan has defended the jurisdiction's authorities against accusations of extravagance following last week's trip to Washington to sign a tax information exchange agreement with the United States.

Critics have questioned whether it was absolutely necessary for five government officials to fly to America for the signing of the treaty. However, speaking to the Guernsey Press and Star, Deputy Morgan defended A&F's actions:

'We all had a job to do - it certainly wasn't a jolly,' he explained. 'The Attorney General [HM Procureur, Geoffrey Rowland] was going anyway, and he had various people he wanted us to meet.'

'Two officials from the tax department were there to check the wording of the final draft of the agreement and sign it because the tax department is the competent authority. Mr Gray [Rob Gray] went on behalf of the income tax administrator.'

By way of conclusion, the Advisory and Finance Chief added wryly that: 'Anybody who wants to fly across the Atlantic twice in three days is welcome'.

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