Antigua-Barbuda dissatisfied with OECD proposals

Saturday, February 14, 2004

LONDON, England: In a letter to the OECD Secretary General, Sir Ronald Sanders, the Chief Foreign Affairs Representative of Antigua and Barbuda, has expressed his government's dissatisfaction with the draft terms of reference released by the OECD in relation to the "Level Playing Field Issues" established following the Ottawa Meeting of the Global Forum last year.

Sir Ronald says that the terms of reference fail to address the immediate requirement that was before the meeting in Ottawa last October for consideration. 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?

Sir Ronald also expressed dismay on behalf of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda over the way in which agreement is being sought on the terms of reference. 

We know of no circumstances, he says, involving so many nations on a matter that many of them claim are 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. 

Sir Ronald states that this is an extraordinary and alarming manner in which to treat a matter that has such far-reaching implications.

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