OFF THE CUFF: France prods Panama for help as Paris meeting looms

FRANCE has joined the growing number of countries prodding Panama  to respond to requests for assistance in investigating cases of its countrymen named in the ‘Panama Papers’ revelations.

Panama may act with a little more alacrity than it has shown to others as France earlier this month included Panama on its black  list of countries reluctant to share financial information and  Finance Minister Dulcidio De La Guardia  will be heading to Paris on the weekend for a Monday meeting with  his French  counterpart  Michel Sapin  to sooth French concerns and  discuss mechanisms for exchange of tax information.

France has launched investigations into individuals and companies linked to the Mossack Fonseca revelations and a few days ago President Francois Hollande asked Panama to respond to requests for information from the French tax authorities. So   it’s time for the tortoise to try to emulate the hare.