Constant scrutiny earns a badge of respectability
Tuesday 15th September 2009, 2:30PM BST.
Bailiff Sir Geoffrey Rowland giving his address. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0840920)
BAILIFF Sir Geoffrey Rowland delivered a proud patriotic speech on why Guernsey ‘could hold its head high’ throughout the world at Friday’s international business summit.
He shared his impressive view of the island’s historical and constitutional place with the guests and referred to its excellent international business record, surviving scrutiny from a plethora of regulatory bodies over the years. ‘We are solid, attract business, have an exceptional record and are doing very well, so we can hold our head up internationally,’ he said.
He added that Guernsey’s governance and policy making had always, and would continue, to serve it well.
‘The government here has positioned us to be successful in financial services and be highly respected as a finance centre.
‘I know our government is absolutely committed to ensuring our police, courts, financial intelligence service and judiciary are able to receive all necessary finances to ensure we can do our job properly and provide legal assistance mutually when necessary.’
He said throughout his career in Guernsey he had witnessed – and been involved in – reviews from such groups as the IMF, the OECD and more recently the G20 and the island had always done well.
‘We have in each case come out with flying colours and that gives us a badge of respectability that can be cited by government and institutions.
‘Guernsey is no safe haven for tax evaders, no haven for organised crime, no haven for money laundering and no haven for corruption.’
‘We are about maintaining first-class international standing and being responsive to international laws as they develop and we are very selective about which businesses we allow in the island.’
He said Guernsey had a wealth of local expertise and a record of entrepreneurship.
- A four page report on the CISX business summit appears in today’s Guernsey Press
- To read Guernsey Press stories in full, click here for subscription details. Individual editions are now available online.
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Yes we can hold our head high! The Phoenix Four (or is it five?) used Guernsey’s wonderful financial industry to facilitate the trousering of over £40 million of questionable remuneration in barely 5 years while they managed to run Rover into the ground and lose all that additional funding the UK government injected. Yes we can certainly be proud of our part in this story.
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Yes Rob Roy
Add to that the fact that taxes will rise for locals to fill the gap caused by a race to the bottom and the failed global casino.
Not to mention the ‘fear’ that there could have been an ‘exodus’ of criminals taking their business away.
Despite that, providing no other exposées of our day to day emerge, the IMF will give us a big pat on the back when they come and ‘assess’ us as they have just done with Jersey.
So what did Heritage Trust co go down for then? Why couldn’t it pay a measly £160K? How long were the GFSC aware? Is there somewhere I can check on what actions the GFSC have taken against non complying institutions?
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“He added that Guernsey’s governance and policy making had always, and would continue, to serve it well.”
Has he not seen the WAO report??
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In his speech Sir Geoffrey dismissed the idea that Guernsey could learn good governance from the UK these days. He went on to say and I quote,” Have we got any lessons to learn about good government from the UK on how to look after our citizens”? “I think not”. You didn’t see that on the front page of the press. As for whether he has read the WAO report, I suspect he probably has and he is in a much better position than most i would suggest to recognise that because a report says something, it doesn’t make it true. I believe the people of Guernsey will be much more inclined to believe the word of a hugely respected Bailiff of Guernsey, than that of a group of UK consultants who unfortunately appeared to show little understanding of the Guernsey system of government or the fact that we do things differently to them, thankfully. Or for that matter the word of the editor of the Guernsey Press who appears to want to wreck our economy by giving thoughtless interviews to the national media on the strength of a report that is questionable and has several aspects in its findings which are highly contentious.
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I cannot believe how such a report can be so arrogantly dismissed by a member of the States of Guernsey. Such attitude makes me despair for the future of the island I love and too weary to bother trying to have a reasonable discussion on the topic.
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Constant scrutiny makes us look shabby, more like.
What we want is no scrutiny to keep what we do a mystery. That way the folk can get rich quicker and run away before it all collapses again.
Well done! We can still boast about it!
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