Antigua Protests At OECD's Stance On Level Playing Field Issues

by Amanda Banks, for LawAndTax-News.com, London

17 February 2004

The government of Antigua and Barbuda has taken issue with the draft terms of reference drawn up by the OECD Sub-Group on Level Playing Field Issues during its meeting earlier this month, and has further expressed dismay at the way in which the multilateral organisation attempted to obtain agreement from the Global Forum.

In its recent communication to Forum members on the draft terms of reference, the OECD called for comments by February 26, announcing that: "The terms of reference will be considered approved unless objections are received by that date."

In a letter to the secretary-general of the OECD Donald Johnston dated Friday, Antigua and Barbuda's chief foreign affairs representative, Sir Ronald Sanders wrote that:

"The government of Antigua and Barbuda wishes to place on record our dismay at the way in which agreement is being sought on these terms of reference. We know of no circumstances, involving so many nations on a matter that many of them claim is of great importance to them, in which a decision has been sought without discussion and by an e-mail indicating acceptance without which acceptance will be presumed. This is an extraordinary and alarming manner in which to treat a matter that has such far reaching implications."

Sir Ronald went on to express the government's dissatisfaction with the terms of reference as put forward by the Sub-Group, arguing that they fail to address the requirement which was being discussed at the meeting of the Global Forum last October.

He explained that:

"The issue to be addressed is simple. Is there, or is there not a level playing field amongst those jurisdictions that make up the Global Forum, OECD and non-OECD alike, who have made commitments to the principles of exchange of information and transparency?"

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