US Consul hits out at Cuba links (Bermuda)

[Judi Lynn]

Friday, March 12, 2004 Contact us


Last modified: March 12. 2004 10:03AM

US Consul hits out at Cuba links
By Ayo Johnson



United States Consul General Denis Coleman yesterday accused Government of fostering economic relations with Cuba and warned it could lead to a deterioration of relations between Bermuda and his country.

Mr. Coleman accused Government in a television interview of breaking a promise last year that its relations with Cuba would only cultural when it agreed to allow a regular charter flight to the Communist Caribbean island.

But Community Affairs Minister Dale Butler maintained last night that Government's dealings with Cuba were strictly cultural and there was nothing Government could do - short of an outright ban - that would stop individual citizens engaging in business with the Caribbean nation.

And Transport Minister and Deputy Premier Ewart Brown said Mr. Coleman should talk to the Governor.
In an interview with VSB TV last night, Mr. Coleman said relations between Bermuda and the US were “not as good as they used to be”.
(snip/...)

http://www.theroyalgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040312/NEWS/103120070

[gula]

1. Another day, another country alienated

[Judi Lynn]

2. Minnesota Democrats on "tax haven companies" (involving Bermunda)

Last modified: March 11. 2004 9:09AM

Contracts ban for 'tax haven companies'
By Mairi Mallon



A bill banning state contracts to be given to companies headquartered in so-called "tax havens" – including Bermuda – was passed on Tuesday by the Minnesota State Government Finance Committee.

And the bill could become law by the end of the year if passed by the full state legislature, according to State representative Bill Hilty, the man who proposed the new law.

Bermuda is included in the definition of a tax haven in the one page bill, along with Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Bahamas, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Isle of Man, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Seychelles, "and any other country that has no corporate income tax or has an effective tax rate of less than ten percent on income that does not arise in or is not derived from that country".

"These are people that want to belong to the country club but don't want to pay their dues," Democrat Mr. Hilty told The Royal Gazette yesterday.
(snip/...)

http://www.theroyalgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040311/BUSINESS/103110078

[Minstrel Boy]

3. God forbid that Bermuda should have good relations with Cuba.

One thing leads to another, and before you know it, you have another Grenada - a Marxist dagger poised to stab the heart of the Republic.

For God's sakes, before the smoking gun is an anthrax-laced Mai Tai, regime change now!