Niven said that although the first article in The Times’s ongoing investigation into tax avoidance referred to one scheme in Jersey, “it implicated Guernsey by association and in reality focused attention on the whole community of international finance centres”.
“Guernsey applies international standards in relation to tax matters. We do not condone tax evasion and we do our utmost to ensure that the island’s clients comply with tax laws in their own jurisdictions, whether that is the UK or elsewhere," he said.
Meanwhile, in Jersey the chief minister senator Ian Gorst, issued a statement yesterday in which he said that Jersey has held the view for many years that its reputation as a successful international finance centre should be built on the range and quality of the financial services offered to the world at large, alongside a firm political commitment to comply fully with all relevant international standards.
“There is no wish or need to accommodate or give encouragement to those who seek to involve Jersey in aggressive tax planning schemes to avoid UK tax. Whilst it is of course for the UK to decide what steps it wishes to take to limit the ability of UK residents to engage in tax avoidance, we will continue to be clear that Jersey does not need nor does it wish to be associated with aggressive tax planning schemes of the kind to which recent publicity has been given in the UK press.”
He added: "I have every intention of ensuring to the best of my ability that this message is received, understood and acted upon by all concerned."
