Shame
An article on the front page of today's Observer reveals how senior government officals and advisers in Jersey planned to reform trust law to make it more effective for international tax dodging. An email exchange between John Harris of the Jersey Financial Services Commission, Treasurer of the States Ian Black, Comptroller of Income Tax Malcolm Campbell and legal adviser Paul de Gruchy, details how the concepts of trusts, an ancient legal device which is often used for charitable purposes, has become totally subverted for tax dodging purposes.
Now I just happen to know these gentlemen, and many of the other senior civil servants in Jersey who have worked so hard to make the island's name synonymous with greed and sleaze. Like many in the tax avoidance industry they are highly educated, enjoy the privileges of wealth and power, and clearly feel no shame about the way their chosen livelihoods corrupt and impoverish society.
Growing up in rural Jersey in the 1960s I was acutely aware of how divided the island had been at the end of the military occupation in 1945. Neighbours pointed out who had collaborated, which businesses profiteered, and who had been physically beaten after the war for 'consorting' with soldiers from the occupying forces. The majority of what went on at that time was banal (see Madeleine Bunting's excellent book on the Model Occupation), but many amongst the older generation have told me about their sense of anger and shame at what went on.
I have a similar sense of shame and anger about how the island has developed over the past few decades. All sense of decency and integrity has been swept aside to accommodate the island's financial services industry. Senior officials have lied through their teeth about what is going on. Jersey is not a tax haven is a favourite lie. We only attract legitimate business is another. The truth is that Jersey, like an ageing whore, has little choice other than to put on more make-up and get back out on the streets to attract more wealthy tax dodgers. And without a shadow of doubt, the new trust law is designed solely for the purpose of facilitating tax evasion.
How shameful to see senior public officials conspiring to promote tax evasion in the name of profit. Hang your heads in shame, gentlemen.
John Christensen (formerly of the Parish of Saint Peter in Jersey)
POSTSCRIPT (Monday 18th September) - Not surprisingly Jersey officials have reacted to the Observer article. But what a foolish reaction. Their Orwellian references to trying to improve on existing transparency and accountability represent yet another lie. There is nothing transparent about offshore trusts. No information is placed in the public domain, and there is no requirement placed upon trustees to publicly account for the trust's activities. Are these people incapable of honesty?
Now I just happen to know these gentlemen, and many of the other senior civil servants in Jersey who have worked so hard to make the island's name synonymous with greed and sleaze. Like many in the tax avoidance industry they are highly educated, enjoy the privileges of wealth and power, and clearly feel no shame about the way their chosen livelihoods corrupt and impoverish society.
Growing up in rural Jersey in the 1960s I was acutely aware of how divided the island had been at the end of the military occupation in 1945. Neighbours pointed out who had collaborated, which businesses profiteered, and who had been physically beaten after the war for 'consorting' with soldiers from the occupying forces. The majority of what went on at that time was banal (see Madeleine Bunting's excellent book on the Model Occupation), but many amongst the older generation have told me about their sense of anger and shame at what went on.
I have a similar sense of shame and anger about how the island has developed over the past few decades. All sense of decency and integrity has been swept aside to accommodate the island's financial services industry. Senior officials have lied through their teeth about what is going on. Jersey is not a tax haven is a favourite lie. We only attract legitimate business is another. The truth is that Jersey, like an ageing whore, has little choice other than to put on more make-up and get back out on the streets to attract more wealthy tax dodgers. And without a shadow of doubt, the new trust law is designed solely for the purpose of facilitating tax evasion.
How shameful to see senior public officials conspiring to promote tax evasion in the name of profit. Hang your heads in shame, gentlemen.
John Christensen (formerly of the Parish of Saint Peter in Jersey)
POSTSCRIPT (Monday 18th September) - Not surprisingly Jersey officials have reacted to the Observer article. But what a foolish reaction. Their Orwellian references to trying to improve on existing transparency and accountability represent yet another lie. There is nothing transparent about offshore trusts. No information is placed in the public domain, and there is no requirement placed upon trustees to publicly account for the trust's activities. Are these people incapable of honesty?
posted by TJN at 6:28 am
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