to:     those with a vision of freedom, not fearful of swimming against the tide
from: Anton Keller, Secretary, Good Offices Group of European Lawmakers
cp. 2580  -  1211 Geneva 2  (t+f: 7400362, 079-6047707, swissbit@solami.com)
 

 Workshop "OECD & FATF – Background, Status & Outlook", 4^th May, Nassau
organized & directed by Gilbert Morris (Nassau Institute) & myself within the frame of the
1^st Annual Global Conference on Offshore Tax Planning, Compliance & Money Laundering
(for program, international faculty & other details see annex; www.solami.com/Nassau.htm)

1. With such keynote speakers as Barbara Angus (US Treasury’s Chief Counsel on International Tax Policy), Joseph Guttenberg (US Treasury’s former Secretary for International Tax Affairs) and Gabriel Makhlouf (chair OECD Committee on Fiscal Affairs) this meeting offers a significant opportunity to "knock heads together" in the right direction, i.e. towards changing the OECD Committee on Fiscal Affairs’ longstanding mandate for "combating tax avoidance" as the core problem of the various OECD-related headaches (on the web at: http://www.solami.com/hijack.htm).
2. Our workshop – like Barbara Angus’ participation – has been arranged by Gilbert Morris.  Clay Lowery (US National Security Council, Director of International Finance) advised both Gilbert and me to seek first Barbara’s support for our idea to have the Bahamas submit its application for OECD membership instead of succombing to ill-considered and eventually back-firing and even counter-productive diktats by unelected bureacrats reminiscent of bygone times.  The purpose of such a strategic move is indeed, and not least, to serve as a surprise counter-offensive vehicle against anti-sovereignty, anti-market & anti-liberty measures which are seen to be increasingly - and, hélas, with less and less resistance and accountability - imposed by essentially uncontrolled members of the global brotherhood for international bureaucratic lawmaking.  Personally, he and his superior, Larry Lindsey, seem sympathetic to such ideas, and they may be expected to look further into this matter if we don’t succeed on this regular path.
3. Gilbert Morris’ Nassau Institute (see annexed homepage from www.nassauinstitute.org) co-organizes and co-sponsors not only the whole Nassau Conference and our workshop, but – as evidenced by the above networking – he has made already his marks as a key instrument in our efforts on the OECD, FATF, QI, Patriot Act front (see his annexed latest policy briefing, on the net at: www.solami.com/morris9.doc). On behalf of the institute he directs, and whose financial market projects I have actively supported with various inputs, he has recently called on the Bahamas financial services professionals to support the work he is doing notably for them by chipping in some $ 500000 for the next 12 months.
4. In light of the above, I suggest that consideration be given by your bank's decision-makers for a prompt contribution either towards that financial market budget, or specifically earmarked to cover the needs in relation with this conference and its workshop (lobbying, networking, organizing costs, staff and invited papers, inviting potentially helpful personalities, etc.). Gilbert’s private tel is: 001242-3245919