Overseas territories furious at UK’s ‘colonial era’ register
By Tom Carnegie, 2 May 18
The British Overseas Territories (BOTs) have slammed the UK Government for trying to force public registers of beneficial owners on the jurisdictions, describing it as an act of “constitutional overreach” and an “unacceptable act of modern colonialism”.
Gibraltar’s chief minister Fabian Picardo said the jurisdiction’s EU status differentiates it from the other BOTs, as it is subject to EU directives and regulations.
He said this EU commitment means Gibraltar is already taking steps to introduce a central register of beneficial owners and so the recent amendment has little impact.
However, he said the Gibraltar Government considers the use of unilateral orders made by the UK, without the jurisdictions consent, to “amount to an unacceptable act of modern colonialism which would in effect overturn democracy”.
In a letter Picardo sent to Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell on 30 April, who tabled to the amendment with Labour MP Margaret Hodge, he said imposing the register was “plainly unacceptable”.
“I cannot emphasise enough to you how unacceptable this is and how contrary to the direction of travel of the constitutional development of Gibraltar such a step would be.
“It would be more than retrograde and would call into question the very nature of the relationship of consent and mutual respect which exists today between Gibraltar and the United Kingdom.
“I have no doubt that fellow chief ministers and premiers of the other overseas territories will express similar sentiments in respect of this aspect of your amendment,” Picardo said.
Tags: British Overseas Territories | Crown Dependencies | Public Register
