Tributes pour in for late Ben Arrindell

A wave of tributes flooded in for former international tax and trade expert Ben Arrindell who passed away on Wednesday.

Arrindell, who served as an adviser to the Barbados Government for more than three decades on the double taxation treaty strategy, the development of new legislation, and the impact of international tax developments on the international business sector, has been hailed by Prime Minister Mia Mottley as a “faithful and competent advisor to the country in a variety of roles”.

“That’s because Ben was as unassuming as he was knowledgeable and competent. He never sought the limelight, yet was never stingy in the sharing of his experience as a guide to the Government and people of Barbados. Indeed, the tremendous success we have been able to boast about as an international business domicile of the highest repute was not without the considerable input and guidance of Ben Arrindell,” she said.

“Ben and I go way back to my time in government under then Prime Minister Owen Arthur right up to the current time when he was appointed as my Special Advisor on International Business. No one understood international tax matters like Ben and his loss will leave a huge void,” Prime Minister Mottley added.

Arrindell was a key figure in Barbados’ tax treaty negotiations with several countries, including Canada, China, Italy, Spain, Mexico, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and the United States, and served at top levels in the accounting and financial services sector.

He served as International Tax and Managing Partner of Ernst & Young, Director of Invest Barbados, a member of the United Nations Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters, and Chairman of the Barbados Private Sector Association (BPSA) from 2005 to 2011.

Some of his most recent contributions to Government included serving as Chairman of the Barbados International Business Association Task Force on the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) (2018-2019).

He led the development of proposals for the major reform of the Barbados corporate tax regime applicable to the international business sector and financial services sector.

In her tribute, Chairman of the BPSA Trisha Tannis noted that Arrindell served the private sector for most of his working life with “distinction, humility and with the greatest of commitment, not only to business but to his family and to our nation”.

She said that as a person, Arrindell exemplified good virtues and sought to bring out the best in people.

“He was the consummate professional who was able to interact with persons from all strata of society. He possessed a wealth of knowledge with outstanding intellect, especially in the areas of international trade, accounting, and taxation, which is truly a great loss at this critical time in our nation and region.

“As a professional in whatever capacity he served – chairman, special advisor, managing partner – Ben has left an indelible mark as he worked with others on building out the international business sector. Working with equal commitment to the private sector and to the public sector, he tackled some of the greatest challenges Barbados encountered in its effort to develop and maintain a sustainable international business sector, a sector that has greatly contributed to the wealth of our country and to those who work or who are connected to it.

“Ben was never seemingly unwilling to fight back some of the greatest punches given to Barbados by the International Community and its representative organisations,” Tannis added.

In 2012, Arrindell received the Silver Crown of Merit and the Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2020 in recognition of his contribution to business and to the nation.