Dominica has expressed optimism as the European Union (EU) will remove this country from a list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions in 2022 during their next peer review.
In October 2021, Dominica, along with Antigua, Anguilla and Seychelles, was removed from the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes. All three had previously been placed on the list because they did not meet the EU’s tax transparency criteria of being ranked as at least ‘largely compliant’ by the OECD Global Forum regarding the exchange of information on request. The delisting was preceded by the forum’s decision to grant these jurisdictions a supplementary review on this matter.
Pending the granted supplementary review, Dominica, Anguilla and Seychelles were included in the “state of play document” which covers jurisdictions that do not yet comply with all international tax standards but that have committed to implementing tax good governance principles.
Twice a year the Council revises its list of non-cooperative jurisdictions and an accompanying state of play document. This practice was established in 2017 to promote global good governance in taxation and inform member states on which non-EU jurisdictions engage in abusive tax practices. They can then employ defensive measures to protect their tax revenues and fight against tax fraud, evasion and abuse.
The criteria for listing are in line with international tax standards and focus on tax transparency, fair taxation and prevention of tax base erosion and profit shifting. The Council engages with the countries that do not meet these criteria, monitors their progress and regularly reviews and updates this list.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit is optimistic that Dominica’s non-compliance status will be removed altogether this year.
In an interview on state-owned DBS Radio, the prime minister said he did not agree with the EU classification and believes that with government’s preoccupation with the health and safety and well-being of its citizens during the pandemic, the action taken by the EU in October last year “could have been deferred”.
The Prime Minister said there was a bit of “insensitivity” on the EU’s part and is happy that Dominica has protested to them and they have recognized that. He stated Dominica has cooperated with the EU and made “tremendous progress”.
“We’ve been tremendous progress and I want to thank the technical staff in the Ministry of Finance for their diligence on this and we submitted our documents to them and in the next peer review this year in 2022. We will certainly get out of these so-called compliances,” he stated.
He added that the EU has also been very helpful by providing technical support and issuing a statement indicating that Dominica has been very cooperative.
“In the next peer review, I am satisfied that Dominica will be removed from this list of jurisdictions that are partially compliant to being fully compliant,”. Skerrit declared. “We are taking actions and as you know, we’ve always maintained that we take our responsibility as a nation very seriously and the security of other nations is one of our priorities.”
He said the government will do everything necessary to ensure that Dominica continues to play its part in maintaining this “secured International Space” and will continue to work with the EU.
Once again he blames Covid for his and his governments failings. Personally, I believe the EU won’t remove Dominica from the list. Non-compliance is a trade mark of this rogue and corrupt PM. Non-compliance with the laws and constitution of our country, non-compliance with fair election rules, non-compliance with the rules of proper accounting of state funds, to name but a few.
DNO the headline of this news item should be” Skerrit is optimistic HE will be removed.” Skerrit is Dominica and vice versa. When he decides to lay down his arm of crookedness, of being a fraud then persons, organizations etc. etc. will reverse their thoughts. Until then you’ll continue to be deemed what we all know you are. And mark that even with your French passport you’ll not get away.
So the double doctorate dude wants to make the rules, interpret the rules and implement the rules for the EU. He came out puffing his chest and shouting from the rooftops that the EU was being unfair to Dominca rather than show humility and comply. Now he admits that his administration is cooperating with the EU, which it had no choice but to do. He must believe that he’s dealing with the legal system in the sub-region which is a fledgling one and has shown itself to be weak and corruptible. The EU will let Dominca off the hook when your government fully complies and it’s not based on small island politics. We shall see.
He is an arrogant piece of s..t. It’s as simple as that. But his days are numbered. Trust!
That’s what I mean. What has he ever done for the EU. The guy is as bold as brass. No respect and is like kicking you donor in the balls and he feels great about that, as if the EU is only there to hand us kados and owe us all the time. Very embarrassing that man.
The blacklisting of Dominica by the EU; the Choski ‘kidnapping’; the missing CBI billions; the continuation of the bogus coup d’etat case against Mr. Linton; the exile of Dr. (real doctorate) Thompson Fontaine; the perennial international airport fiasco; the national debt; the mysterious Pakistani university and the other replacement for Ross U; the authenticity of Mr. Skerrit’s enormous wealth – Why have you no independent comments on these colossal issues, DNO? Why don’t you call on the regime to come clean? Why don’t you force them out of their fox hole? Any responsible, mainstream media would. You (DNO), DBS and Kairi are all part of the problem and not the solution.
The media entities, by remaining silent, give tacit consent to corruption, callousness and the collapse of democracy in Dominica.
ADMIN: While we may not have done it in a way that echoed your views, we have reported on all these stories often in a manner unfavourable to those involved.
The facts don’t favour any one side – more likely than not, the unbiased truth is a little unfavourable to all sides involved.
You blame us for being part of the problem but what if we accused you of being part of the problem with your approach that seems to be focused on just commenting on DNO.
You make it seem like DNO and DNO alone has the power to effect change, we appreciate your confidence in us, but we would remind you that in a democracy the power is in the people not the people in power.
@DNO “The power is in people.” But DNO, I thought you were part of the people in whom the power lies! Ibo France is 100% correct. He is always thoughtful and brilliant in his contributions on DNO. Love isn’t without the fire of passion…and this brother is laying it all out with that passion. He is pleading to the media to do a much better job. It’s not an easy job. But one must first count the cost before becoming a journalist. You will make many enemies; and most of your enemies will be from folks in “high places.” So get on with the job of impartial journalism and the local people will have your back. Don’t bow down to Nebuchadnezzar (Skerrit) King of Babylon.
Translation: Skerrit’s optimism = a Fata Morgana.
Although the European Nations and the U.S. can be overly stringent about the adherence of other countries to their tax compliance demands, Dominica is always caught wanting on the wrong side of anything concerning TRANSPARENCY, FAIRNESS and GOOD GOVERNANCE.
This is the primary reason the country ever attracts much foreign direct investment. Any new investments are done with the financial aid of rogue countries friendly to Dominica and by the ruling regime itself.
Dominica’s name will be forever tarnished with night soil once Roosevelt ‘Bogus’ Skerrit is at the apex of the foodchain.