Last Updated on August 8, 2020, 9:10 AM AST by Anthony Morris
Attorney General, Dale Marshall, said to the Parliament on Friday that Barbados declared that it is ready to fight the European Union “tooth and nail” in the court if the blacklisting of the bloc which has been imposed is not reviewed.
Marshall said before the House of Assembly Standing Finance Committee that Barbados would fight this tooth and nail.
The country is prepared, to litigate the EU stance in various international forums, if required not just because it has the ability to cripple the financial system of Barbados but also because of the principle which says that no one can be judged and convicted without giving them an opportunity of being heard.
Marshall said that Bridgetown had asked Brussels for talks last year which did not happen.
He said that the EU put Barbados on a blacklist in relation to money laundering following one of their pieces of legislation.
He added that he wants to tell the Chamber that over a year ago, Barbados fought with the EU in the relation of shaming and naming jurisdictions.
Barbados had argued with the EU that they could not name and shame Barbados in a process where no opportunity for consultation is there.
Marshall said that if the EU has a view that Barbados has fallen short, Barbados should get an opportunity to present its side and tell the EU that this is Barbados’s state of affairs.
The Attorney General told the Chamber that the blacklisting by the EU was linked to Barbados not being compliant with the FATF.
He said that they had pre-determined that somehow because Barbados has not graduated from the FAFT system and represented a high risk.
He further added that the EU had agreed to consult with Barbados and they did not consult with the country. The EU has did not discuss with the Government of Barbados or any of its agents.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
