AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Belize Life News The Pandora Papers Points To Glenn Godfrey

You may have heard about the Pandora Papers this weekend. It's among the biggest leaks in history - "almost 12 million documents and files exposing the secret wealth and dealings of world leaders, politicians and billionaires" - all hidden away in offshore companies The mother lode of data "was obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists in Washington DC and and has led to a far-reaching global investigation into the Offshore Banking Sector - shaking up a lot of politicians and oligarchs in other countries. But - none of the local big names here were seriously implicated - the only vibrations in Belize came for the secretive offshore sector.

First, here's what the Pandora Papers are - we have a clip from an outline by the Washington Post:

But the Pandora Papers don't just focus on Belize - they zone in on one big name attorney and former government Minister and ultimate PUP insider, Glenn D Godfrey. Here - in brief - is a sketch of the findings about his law practice and its dealing with offshore companies:

And while ICIJ says Godfrey did not respond to their request for a comment - Godfrey had a whole lot to say today. He issued one statement through a third party this morning and then sent out this statement this evening - saying they have defamed his law practice:

Glenn D Godfrey, Attorney
"Most recently, a news report from International Consortium of Investigative Journalists surfaced called the Pandora Papers. That report seeks to question our firm's integrity and good standing. The report while not imputing any criminality to us, sought to affiliate my person and my firm with an alleged murderer and other unsavory characters, including one Robert Durst. The individual referred to in this piece is apparently one, Robert Durst."

"We have written to the Journalist Consortium seeking a complete retraction of all its reference and report in relation to my person and Glenn D. Godfrey as a legal firm. The report is seriously defamatory and has caused irreparable damage to my person and legal firm's reputation and a consequent decrease in clientele."

"Should the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists refuse to accede to our demand, we will seek legal redress."

"We maintain that our firm never had as client the individual in question. Our legal engagement was with a legal firm which represented the individual. Our due diligence was completed to ensure that we never served the client in that capacity alleged by the media report in question."

Another statement from Godfrey says "all the persons mentioned in the report have long since ceased to be clients of our firm." End quote.

We note that more than 600 journalists from 117 countries worked on this ICIJ project.

Channel 7

Glenn Godfrey Heightens His Defensive Stance

Glenn Godfrey is not a man known for his forays into public life, or his press interviews - he probably gives those about once a decade. But, the retiring attorney has been thrust into the harsh glare of international media scrutiny after the Pandora Papers made a detailed study the shady clients who have used his services of over the years.

And, that has forced the senior attorney to come out of his professional shell to defend his firm against the allegation that it was a, quote, "one-stop shop for American clients, including at least a dozen who sheltered assets while facing criminal investigations or costly lawsuits."

According to the Washington Post, the Pandora Papers, quote, "expose how a prolific offshore operator in Belize accepted and served suspect American clients by setting up trusts and shell companies."

Godfrey's firm sent out two statements yesterday disclaiming the findings of the investigative report - and today put out a statement - along with a user friendly list of answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

The statement says, quote, "our firm finds itself maligned and unfairly positioned in relation to the matters at hand we pride ourselves in compliance to the spirit and letter of all applicable legislations. We regret that the ICIJ report while pursuing noble intent, pursued it in a fashion that employed threats, heavy handed bullying and refusal to peruse the matter with legal and journalistic professional ethical guidelines."

Channel 7

Glenn D Godfrey Responds to the Pandora Papers Allegations

It has been nine days since the leak of the Pandora Papers by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). The papers surround over one hundred leaders and celebrities dabbling in offshore banking, primarily used to evade taxes. Belize was listed multiple times in the papers, as the country has often been dubbed a tax haven. Specifically mentioned was Glenn D Godfrey and Company and CIL (sill) Trust International. Glenn Godfrey is one of Belize's former Attorney Generals and is currently a senior counsel who heads both companies. Between both companies, more than six hundred thousand records were leaked as part of the 11.9 million financial records reviewed by the ICIJ over a one-year period. Interestingly, the ICIJ, in its articles does not state that Godfrey's two companies provided illegal services, but to some extent, Godfrey says that the reports have cast aspersions and untruths. Today in an exclusive interview, Godfrey sat down with Senior Reporter Hipolito Novelo to share crucial details that the ICIJ seemingly left out. Here is that story.