Panama Papers: 'an old tradition of English piracy' | openDemocracy

Panama Papers: 'an old tradition of English piracy' | openDemocracy

British Overseas Territories, many of which have been bound up in the leaks

Francesc Badia i Dalmases, Director, democraciaAbierta: "an old tradition of English piracy”

A stroll around any leisure harbour around the Mediterranean or the Caribbean will show a fair amount of Panamanian flags sported at the stern of the biggest superyachts. Other flags of convenience include St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Antigua and Barbuda... paradises of a few hundred years – an old tradition of English piracy. And they are still operating, yet now in another, more sophisticated scale. There is no need to hit and run anymore, you can comfortably sit in an elegant office in London or Zürich and get the transfers done. But the waters – now known as the internet – are becoming more and more treacherous, as a number of hackers and whistleblowers are sailing around in search of big game.