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A new innovative technology platform, BOSSs (Beneficial Ownership Secure Search System), was unveiled to industry on Wednesday 1 February. The platform, which will go live in June, will allow BVI law enforcement to share information with UK law enforcement within 24 hours, and demonstrates the territories on-going commitment to ensuring its systems and processes remain market leading.

At the heart of the new platform is a searchable portal that provides BVI law enforcement authorities with direct and immediate access to verified beneficial ownership information on any BVI company.

The platform was presented to 85 attendees by Neil Smith, Financial Secretary at BVI Finance’s breakfast forum. Mr Smith was joined by BDO’s Deputy Managing Director, Ryan Geluk, and Technical Risk Services Manager, Guy-Paul Dubois, representatives of the company that developed the platform.

The BOSS platform meets all international standards as defined by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and demonstrates the territory’s ongoing commitment to providing the appropriate balance between privacy and transparency. It will operate in a similar way to the territories current exchange agreement with the UK Government, ensuring beneficial ownership information can be shared with treaty partners rapidly and efficiently.

Commenting Mr. Smith said, “Over the past 30 years the BVI has carefully built a market leading financial services proposition and a robust regulatory framework. We believe the implementation of BOSSs will strengthen this even further and cement our position as a leading international finance centre. This initiative clearly demonstrates BVI’s commitment to cooperating with international law enforcement agencies to help identify and tackle instances where our structures are being used inappropriately. We’re delighted that this will put the territory at the very forefront of best practice in regard to obtaining and managing beneficial ownership information.”