Tom PowellCHIEF Minister Fabian Picardo has lashed out at UK MP Keith Vaz for criticising Gibraltar as a haven for laundering drug money in the House of Commons.
Vaz, Labour MP for Leicester East, accused the Rock of being a gateway for money profited from the drugs trade into the world financial system.
“The drugs trade is worth some $380 billion a year, most of which enters the financial system, some through offshore areas such as Gibraltar,” he claimed.
Vaz, who briefly held mistrial responsibility in Gibraltar, added: “We need to be sure that authorities cooperate.”
In retaliation, a furious Picardo has written to Vaz to defend the Rock.
“I am outraged at the untrue way in which you have specifically linked Gibraltar with the introduction of the proceeds of drug trafficking into the financial system,” he said.
“You have given the impression, totally erroneously and without any factual basis, that Gibraltar is a gateway for sums – possibly colossal amounts – of illegal proceeds into the world financial system.
“You cannot imagine the distress your throw away remarks have caused me, the government and the fiercely loyal people of Gibraltar.”
Picardo’s letter goes on to list seven facts which clarify the Rock’s strict financial regulations, demanding Vaz take heed of them and publicly correct his statements.
Mr Vaz should read the OECD report issued just over week ago “http://www.oecd.org/countries/gibraltar/global-forum-on-transparency-and-exchange-of-information-for-tax-purposes-peer-reviews-gibraltar-2014-9789264222885-en.htm”
A stupid comment from a person who managed somehow not going to prison for his own failings .
Gibraltarian politicians have gone the extra mile to make sure that Gibraltar complies with all international requirements regarding financial institutions. The last thing it needs is a politician who wears his own dirty underpants to make flippant, unsubstantiated remarks to undermine these efforts in order to score some brownie points.
Come on Keith, stick to your other righteous campaigns and stay away from matters that are beyond you.
“.. Gibraltarian politicians have gone the extra mile to make sure that Gibraltar complies with all international requirements regarding financial institutions.. ”
Oh boy, yes, and don’t we all know how much attention politicians and financial institutions give to legal compliance and international requirements.
Why, I confidently believe that Gibralter takes as much care when complying with international law as do the City of London, or New York’s Wall Street. We know who we can trust.
@AW You forgot Rajoy and his Party, Madrid stock exchange, land grab in Spain, and other financial institutions in Spain, as well as worldwide, including California, Lol
Please do list who we can trust!!!