I was an eager young novice with a boat load of dreams when I started out with the accounting firm of Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. After I successfully completed the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam, Alan Brooks, who was a partner in the firm, took a moment to pull me aside privately. He looked squarely into my eyes and simply said: “It’s all about relationships George.” I didn’t know it at the time, but Alan had spoken the key that could unlock the door to success in all aspects of my life.

In Birth of A Caribbean Tax Haven: The Untold Story, I weave together fact and fiction alongside personal experiences to contrast long-term success with irrecoverable failure. Many years ago, as a young man growing up in the Cayman Islands, I would occasionally hear the name "James MacDonald’" come up in conversations. These conversations were about the early days of economic development in Grand Cayman. I was curious because I never heard about this man in formal circles or in the classroom. No government recognition or any special accolade was ever awarded to him publicly, yet he clearly made a significant contribution to the formation and establishment of the Cayman Islands as a premier offshore financial center. I had to know why this man was “intentionally” sidelined. After many hours of research and conversations with those who knew him personally, I was finally able to form my own conclusion as to why his story has remained untold for so long. Here is my conclusion: its all about relationships.