71.   The prime minister said the director of two St. Vincent offshore banks is wanted on U.S. charges of money laundering and has left the country.

72.   The reforms also give more flexibility to offshore banks.

73.   The task force said Dominica has started to comply, with a new law that gives foreign authorities access to information from offshore banks and companies.

74.   U.S. and police agents raided buildings connected to an offshore bank director accused of money laundering in Florida, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves announced Tuesday.

75.   With the bill passed by Parliament, Nauru now will establish a regulatory body to supervise registered offshore banks operating in Nauru.

76.   Foreign exchange dealers here said the ruling allowing offshore banks to carry out only forex trading put them at a disadvantage.

77.   In Singapore, Chiao Tung Bank has a restricted licence while ICBC is a full offshore bank.

78.   Bahrain, a tiny Gulf oil producer, is the only country in the region to have offshore banks.

79.   Bahrain, a tiny monarchy with little oil, is the only Gulf Arab state that has offshore banks.

80.   But it decided to permit the opening of offshore banks although none of them has so far operated.