PARADISE PAPERS - A8 QUESTION OF MORALITY

Dear Editor

HH has certainly lost it completely.

Owning an offshore account as mentioned in the paradise papers is nothing to be proud of. All those mentioned in the papers, including the Queen are in shame because the conduct is despicable. It may not be criminal but it is frowned upon.

Off shore accounts are usually frowned upon because they are a haven for hiding money from tax authorities. There is nothing honourable about them and being named among the many prominent people does not make it any more honourable.

Tax havens are exactly that, areas of the globe where crooks, the rich and famous hide money to avoid taxes while the rest of population struggle to meet their tax obligations.

It may also be too soon for HH to claim an “all clear” because the papers are still being digested and indications are that all those mentioned will be connected to other dealings that are yet to be discovered.

Those who dabble in financial gymnastics bordering on the illegal do not enjoy a free conscience because the motivation for such action is never wholesome, it represent an amount of duplicity hence the apprehension and the reason why such leaks are made in the first place.

These leaks are intended to expose the working of the rich and famous who seem to answer to a different ethic.

They are meant to name and shame. The fact that HH says he is happy about the report shows his character and lack of remorse for contemptible product. Others named in the report have cringed in shame. In fairness HH and his colleagues must wait for the investigations that are being done in Saturnia pension fund where huge amounts of money were moved without the authority of the Minister as required by law. This money together with the other investment in the United Kingdom which has come under query will no doubt affect the standing of the various companies that have connections to Saturnia.

Only time will tell is all is well.