FM (Europe) closed T ing b Inland Revenue tg t e: ig II by Melanie Hammond
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First Point International (Europe), the company which said it could get green cards for truck drivers who want to work in the US, has been forced into liquidation after failing to pay the Inland Revenue £347,000.
A further £1.6m owed to HM Customs & Excise in the company's previous trading name, First Point International, means the Exchequer is owed nearly £2m.
First Point's former financial controller John Gillespie, who is now a director, says the company had cash flow difficulties but adds that he plans to help truck driver clients through a new company, VisaPlus, which was set up last month.
However, he admits that legally VisaPlus cannot take over First Point clients' contracts at present, as they still belong to First Point Management in the Bahamas.
According to Gillespie, David Webster--who is on bail in Orlando, Florida charged with visa fraud--is still in control of First Point Management, and VisaPlus is unable to help drivers on the programme until Webster releases the existing contracts. The rest of the First Point Group of companies is still subject to ongoing discussion with David Webster," adds Gillespie. "We anticipate a resolution in the near future."
He says VisaPlus will not get involved with recruitment but will help drivers to relocate overseas. The directors are listed as John Gillespie, Graham Copsey and former FPI chairman OM Saunders.