Public input is being sought on proposed changes to Anguilla’s commercial registry and beneficial ownership registration system.
The Executive Council, at its 28 August meeting in the Governor’s Office, approved the next stage of the government’s plan to establish accessible registers of beneficial ownership.
The documents that the public can analyse include draft legislative amendments, along with accompanying regulations and a consultation note from the Ministry of Finance.
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“Once it concludes, the feedback received will be carefully reviewed, and any relevant comments will be incorporated into the draft legislation and regulations,” she said.
“The revised package will then be prepared for submission to the Executive Council and once approved it will be forwarded to the House of Assembly for enactment.”
The draft bill entitled Commercial Registry and Beneficial Ownership Registration System (Amendment) Act, 2025, can be accessed here.
The Commercial Registry and Beneficial Ownership Registration System (Amendment) Regulations, 2025, can be accessed here.
The consultation note can be accessed here. All comments can be emailed to [email protected]
‘Critical deadline’
The move came a month after several UK-based anti-corruption and tax justice organisations criticised Anguilla for missing a “critical deadline” for the introduction of a public beneficial ownership register.
In a joint statement they said the lack of access to the company data “undermines the UK’s credibility on anti-corruption, damages our economy, weakens our national security, and fuels global injustice”.
Writing a day after the deadline on 1 July, the watchdog groups said the “continued resistance to transparency” from UK offshore financial centres could not be ignored.
They urged the UK government to “escalate its response” if any overseas territory continues to “defy the will of the UK parliament”.
Speaking in UK parliament on 3 July, Stephen Doughty, UK minister responsible for the overseas territories, said Anguilla is progressing towards completion during the third quarter (July to September).
“We remain in close contact to support timely delivery. I welcome the discussions I have had with the new Premier Richardson Hodge,” he said.
The Ministry of Finance told Anguilla Focus: “We recognise the high level of public interest in this matter and remain committed to ensuring that Anguilla delivers on the commitments in a timely and transparent way.”
