CFATF workshop focuses on building effective AML/CFT legislation

DPI, GUYANA, Friday, May 4, 2018

The Commonwealth Secretariat is supporting the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force’s (CFATF) Judges and Prosecutors Workshop being hosted, in Guyana, in recognition of the independence of the various law enforcement offices and the challenges they face with money laundering, corruption and terrorist financing.

[In the photo: front row, second from left to right] Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, President David Granger, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Baroness Patricia Scotland, First Vice President and Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams S.C., and [at the extreme right] Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings pose for an official photograph along with delegates participating in the workshop.

This was disclosed today, by Commonwealth Secretary-General, Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland who noted that the workshop offers a platform for the judicial officers to come together to share experiences and challenges and look at collective ways of addressing the issues.

The training offers a broad spectrum of international requirements related to the implementation of money laundering and terrorist financing standards.

“We are really focusing on the effectiveness of anti-money laundering legislation because we know if we are to interdict crime we have to increase the likelihood of the crooks being caught and relieve them of the burdens of their ill-gotten gains,” the SG pointed out.

She added that persons need to disabuse themselves from the thought that money laundering is a “victimless” crime, noting that when money is removed from legitimate processes, then the citizens suffer.

According to Baroness Scotland, the old, poor and disadvantaged are the most affected by this crime, further stressing the importance of a robust AML/CFT legislative framework.

The training, over the two days at the workshop, is to help the judges and prosecutors to objectively work together and uphold the rule of law without fear or favour, according to the Baroness.

A toolkit has been developed at the Secretariat based on the Latimer House Principles related to judicial independence developed to ensure the harmonious balance of power among the Executive, Parliament and Judiciary of democratic societies.

The hosting of the Judges and Prosecutors Workshop is a collaboration among the Commonwealth Secretariat, CFATF and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

 

By: Stacy Carmichael.

 

Editor’s Note: The Commonwealth (Latimer House) Principles require that the three branches of government should maintain high standards of accountability, transparency and responsibility in the conduct of all public business.

CATEGORIES
TAGS