Netherlands Antilles Seeks Clarity Over OECD 'Grey List'

by Phillip Morton, Investors Offshore.com

07 April 2009

The State Secretary of Finance of the Netherlands Antilles, Alex Rosaria, has released a statement noting that the Netherlands Antilles has been put on the OECD ‘grey list’ of international financial centers.

Rosaria has been actively trying to convince the international community during the last 3 years that the Netherlands Antilles should not be on a black list. “At least we now know where we stand, even though we are not sure why we are on the grey list and what we need to do in order to be white-listed by the Paris-based multilateral organization”.

In the Netherlands Antilles Rosaria questioned the list stating that it should be ‘transparent and not a guessing game’. Rosaria has requested a meeting with the OECD to discuss the reasoning behind the Netherlands Antilles’ grey listing and what it would need to achieve in order to be removed.

“We want to sit down with them. We want to know why we are on the grey list and especially what we need to do additionally in order to be on the white list.”

The Netherlands Antilles has committed to OECD standards since 2000 and has been commended on many occasions by the OECD as ‘having made most progress on matters of international tax transparency’, noted its release.

“Our unequivocal message to the world community is that we are committed to regulation, transparency and effective exchange of information,” said Rosaria.

Recommended