STATEMENT BY PREMIER
DR. HON. D. ORLANDO SMITH, OBE
ON THE HOUSE OF LORDS CONSIDERATION OF COMMONS AMENDMENTS TO THE SANCTIONS AND ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING BILL

The House of Lords earlier today debated the validity of a House of Commons amendment to require public central registers of beneficial ownership in the Overseas Territories (OT) during their Consideration of Commons Amendments to the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill.

I welcome the many positive statements made by highly respected Peers in the Chamber on the Constitutional position of the British Virgin Islands and other Overseas Territories who are of the view that the United Kingdom (UK) proceeding to impose public registries on the territories is a violation of the well-established principle of self-governance and ignores the international standards met by the BVI and other OT Financial Centres on beneficial ownership of companies and information exchange, particularly with UK law enforcement.

Despite these strongly expressed views, the amendment remains in the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill which moves on to its next stage and eventually onward to Her Majesty the Queen for Royal Assent. 

Our view on public registers of beneficial ownership has not changed. They are not required by any global standard and we will continue to defend our right not to have a public register until such time that they do become a global standard.