Antiguan Attorney General In Legal Dicussions With UK

by Amanda Banks, Tax-News.com, London

25 April 2003

Attorney-General of Antigua and Barbuda, Gertel Thom, returned home from the United Kingdom this week after a series of legal discussions with, amongst others, the Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine. The main issues discussed were the proposal for a Caribbean Court of Justice to settle trading disputes, and the continuing role of the Privy Council as the final place of appeal in civil and criminal cases.

Whilst in London, the Attorney-General met with lawyers representing Antigua and Barbuda at the World Trade Organisation in its case against the United States' ban on internet gambling. Moves in the US Congress such as the Kyle Bill and the Leach Bill which ban US citizens from gambling via the internet are reckoned to cost the jurisdiction some $30 million A&B Prime Minister Lester Bird claimed earlier in the year.

The Chief Foreign Affairs Representative to Antigua and Barbuda, Sir Ronald Sanders, is due to meet with US Ambassador to the WTO, Linnet F. Deily, to discuss the issue next week. They will both be accompanied by their respective legal aides.

Consultations were also held with Collingwood Ingram, legal experts on maritime law, who are advising the jurisdiction on compliance with the new International Maritime Organisation regulations. The country has consistently appeared on the IMO's 'white list' of fully compliant flag-states according to reports. Antigua and Barbuda has over 800 vessels registered under its flag.

Recommended