red tape at an establishment vendor

[freemanmax]

talk about red tape...

Here is my shortened list with editorial, bolding is my own to show the absurdity, by OCRA of who cannot use their services. Are all intermediaries so uptight? Are they businessmen or politically correct bureaucrats working for the mega-state?

">Unacceptable Business and Activities Requiring Pre-approval

2.1 "Illegal Activities" means any activity designated anywhere in the world as illegal or criminal which, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, shall be deemed to include activities relating to terrorism, drug trafficking, money laundering, receiving the proceeds of criminal activities or trading with countries which may from time to time be subject to any embargo imposed by the Security Council of the United Nations, the European Union, the United Kingdom or the Isle of Man or any successor or similar international organisation."

So, although retail sales of cannabis might still be legal in Netherlands, you can't set up an IBC via OCRA . Whose definition of terrorism - the British government's which designed its anti-terrorism bill along the lines of the unconstitutional Patriot Act? What kinds of drugs - pharmaceuticals, designer drugs, herbal legal high? How is money laundering defined - using halawa instead of established banks? OCRA customers may visit Cuba and trade $1 for a slice of pizza as that is just those pesky Americans. How liberal of them.

>2.2 "Prohibited Persons" means persons:

2.2.2 who are undischarged bankrupts or are otherwise disqualified from acting as a director or company officer or who have been imprisoned or found guilty of any criminal offence (other than a motoring offence carrying a non-custodial sentence).

So, ANY criminal record except speeding or parking violation means you can't use CRA's services!

>2.2.4 who are resident in a country which is subject to any international restriction or embargo including, but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, those imposed by the Security Council of the United Nations, the European Union, the United Kingdom or the Isle of Man or any successor or similar organisation.

So, if I move to Puntland in the Horn of Africa and settle down, as Puntland is not recognized and is considered part of Somalia; or if I choose to move to Transneistrei an unrecognized state by the UN - I can't use OCRA's services.

>2.2.5 who are government officials or politicians.

Huh, if i am the King of Hujibuji Land or am the Minister of Janitorial Supplies in Leichenstein I can't hire OCRA? !?!?

>2.3 "Prohibited Activities" means activities not approved or accepted by OCRA and which, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, include activities relating to:
2.3.2 mercenary or contract soldiering;

Such as if I work for Blackwater in Iraq.

>2.3.3 security and riot control equipment such as stun guns, electronic restraining devices, CS gas or other similar materials, pepper sprays or any other device that could lead to the abuse of human rights or be utilised for torture or which may otherwise be used in an offensive manner;

If you sell pepper spray to defend against rapists, nope - no OCRA for you either.

>2.3.4 technical surveillance or bugging equipment and industrial espionage;

Or as an electronic babysitter!!!

>2.3.6 human or animal organs, including blood and plasma;

Let the people die who cannot get organs through the state controlled donations only non-market.

>2.3.7 the abuse of animals, vivisection or the use for any scientific or product testing purpose of animals;

Hey, I am a vegetarian, but what the heck! Is this PETA or a business?

>2.3.8 genetic material;

No scientists please.

>2.3.9 adoption agencies, including surrogate motherhood;

Let the kids die.

>2.3.10 the abuse of refugees or human rights;

This would presumably include no 'human trafficking'. Just today I saw a poster (in this case I happen to agree with leftists) in Vancouver advocating that a new law not be passed in Canada as it puts all international transportation of people in the same category of abuse even though they might very well want to escape their captors in Lower Slobovia. This means OCRA would not do business with those who rescued Jews in WWII or slaves in the 19th century, or East Germans or North Koreans. Total numbskulls if you ask me.

>2.3.11 *****graphy;

A very loosely defined word. Do they mean obscenity - a legally defined term that varies from place to place. Larry Flynn, whats your take on this?

>2.3.12 drug paraphernalia;

No antique opium pipes from Vietnam

2.3.15 pyramid sales;

Hey, what if I want to buy a pyramid? ;-)

>2.3.16 religions, religious cults and charities;

What are they atheists too?

>2.3.19 trading or other activities relating to futures or other derivatives or financial instruments that create an open or unlimited exposure;

Hey, if people want to take chances, let 'em go down. No one put a gun to my head when I lost $2000 on that crazy Freeland scheme.

2.4 "Pre- Approval Required Activities" means:

>2.4.3 Time share and holiday clubs.

!!!

>2.4.5 Accepting payment over the Internet for products or services.

i.e. doing ANY business. Hey, OCRA is worse than city hall!

>2.4.8 Gambling or lotteries.

Take note you talkgold types

>2.5 If any Clients or the Clients' Appointees are or become Prohibited Persons, or engage in any Illegal Activities or the Entity engages in any Illegal Activities or Prohibited Activities or undertake any Pre-Approval Required Activities without first obtaining OCRA's prior written consent, OCRA may at its discretion immediately terminate the Services or take any of the actions referred to in Paragraph 8.4 hereof.

I am afraid to look at what those actions might be. And note that if you have a clean criminal record but get arrested at some protest or miss an alimony payment to your e-wife and you get busted you too could be thrown out of the IBC you paid for at OCRA.

If they are just trying to follow the laws of UK, and Isle of Man to the letter - I feel sorry for anyone trying to run a business there.

Is this normal for this industry? They sound like total pansies.

[GoldenFleece]

Originally Posted by freemanmax

talk about red tape...

Here is my shortened list with editorial, bolding is my own to show the absurdity, by OCRA of who cannot use their services. Are all intermediaries so uptight? Are they businessmen or politically correct bureaucrats working for the mega-state?

It sounds like a prudent business practice to me. They have an excellent reputation. Why would they want to ruin it by taking on criminals and knuckle-heads as clients? There are plenty of low-life OSPs to represent criminal and grey area clients. Why would anyone who owned a business with a fine reputation want to besmirch it? They have been in the offshore business for a long time. They know all the danger signs.

[freemanmax]

I just took a break from my inconsiderate mega-posting to read an excellent article by Sam Knight in Harper's July 2011 issue.

It follows protesters in Belarus who are beaten by police for opposing the dictator Lukashenko. Allow me to quote but a brief part of that article...

"Over the next forty-eight hours, 639 people were arrested in Minsk. five-presidential candidates, eighteen of their aides, and a collection of journalists and activists were later charged under article 293 of Belarus's criminal code for organizing the demonstration - an offense punishable by up to fifteen years in prison. Months later, some have been tried ans sentenced." p. 66

Ah, better the dangerous criminals aren't permitted to do business with OCRA. I spit on all such businesses.

[GoldenFleece]

Originally Posted by freemanmax

I just took a break from my inconsiderate mega-posting to read an excellent article by Sam Knight in Harper's July 2011 issue.

It follows protesters in Belarus who are beaten by police for opposing the dictator Lukashenko. Allow me to quote but a brief part of that article...

"Over the next forty-eight hours, 639 people were arrested in Minsk. five-presidential candidates, eighteen of their aides, and a collection of journalists and activists were later charged under article 293 of Belarus's criminal code for organizing the demonstration - an offense punishable by up to fifteen years in prison. Months later, some have been tried ans sentenced." p. 66

Ah, better the dangerous criminals aren't permitted to do business with OCRA. I spit on all such businesses.

Citing an unusual situation does not negate the general rule. Nor is there anything that prohibits an OSP from making an exception in appropriate circumstances. In a capitalistic society a business decides who it wishes to deal with. Who are you to say otherwise? If you see an opportunity, start your own company.

[crisp]

This looks like a very serious corporate structure but since they want to show

how squeaky clean they are I suspect government funding involved in this

company via consultations or other services paid by government. And as we all

know the most honest people on earth are politicians and government officials.