PRESS RELEASE

TCIG HOSTS ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING WEBINAR SERIES

Pursuant to TCIG efforts to conduct continuous training in the areas of anti-money laundering, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in collaboration with the Attorney General's Chambers and the Financial Crimes Unit hosted the first of its kind, the “Anti-Money Laundering Webinar Series” on November 18th, November 25th and December 2nd. The training provided participants with an understanding of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendations and what they mean for the TCI, the relevant anti-money laundering legislation in the TCI, investigative tools and Anti-Money laundering mechanisms. Topics included “The Fundamentals of Money Laundering”, “Compliance with the International Standards”, “TCI Anti- Money Laundering Framework”, “The Investigator’s Role” as well as Asset Recovery.

The webinar series started off with opening remarks from the Honorable Attorney General Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles, OBE, QC and Mr. Eugene Otuonye QC, Director of Public Prosecutions. Presentations were made by the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions and Chair of the Anti-Money Laundering Unit in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs. Angela Brooks, ASP Kenville Charles, Head of the Financial Crime Unit, Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, Mrs. Shayone Handfield –Gardiner, Senior Crown Counsel, International Division, Attorney’s General’s Chambers as well as public prosecutors Ms. Mickia Mills and Mrs. Kellee-Gai Smith.

Close to fifty participants attended on each occasion. These participants were from various agencies, to include the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, the Customs Department, Immigration Department and the Integrity Commission.

This collaborative effort demonstrates the active steps taken by the TCIG to provide capacity- building to the relevant Law Enforcement Agencies and to continually enhance the systems in place to combat the scourge of money-laundering. The series will continue in 2021 and will expose more law enforcement officers to anti-money laundering training.

PRESS RELEASE

Customs Department Hosted Training on Anti-Money Laundering (AML)

On the 2nd and 3rd of October, 2019 Managers and Senior Officers of the Customs Department participated in Anti-Money Laundering (AML) training facilitated by the Attorney General’s Chambers.

Money laundering is ubiquitous and a great hazard to the National Economy. Customs Departments around the world are confronted with Money Laundering and its predicate offences, not just limited to drug related offences but also financial fraud and in particularly, tax and duty evasion. The Department’s aim is to increase its awareness of and ability to fight corrupt practices associated with Money Laundering, and the predicate offences, such as trade-based Money Laundering by increasing awareness, developing Department-wide Training Programmes and advocating best practices.

In keeping with this, the recently held AML Training enabled participants to gain an understanding of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) 40 recommendations and the status of the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Mutual Evaluation Report process. Participants were also introduced to the documents and Legislative Amendments that have been made to date to strengthen the TCI’s AML/CFT Framework in line with the FATF recommendations.

Commenting on the training, the Collector of Customs Ms. Chawa Williams stated; “This training is not only crucial, but timely. It comes at a pivotal time where the TCI’s Mutual Evaluation Report will be tabled at the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) Plenary this November. Money Laundering and the predicate offences are becoming more and more prevalent within the Caribbean Region, and so we must prepare and equip ourselves to address these threats head on. This training is part and parcel of a rigorous set of planned training in the area. It sought to apprise officers of our obligations. Other training sessions will focus directly on Trade based Money Laundering typologies, such as fictitious shipments, under invoicing and over invoicing. We are exceedingly grateful to the AG Chambers for all of their assistance and we look forward to their continued support.”

Subsequent training will be organized to ensure the information received is trickled throughout the department’s staff complement.

END

PRESS RELEASE

ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING AND COMBATING THE FINANCING OF TERRORISM & PROLIFERATION FINANCING (AML/CFT & PF) TRAINING

The TCI, in compliance with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendations continues its efforts to implement measures and enhance its ability to effectively undertake anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CFT) and proliferation financing (PF).

The Attorney General’s Chambers, International Division conducted a one-day training on the on anti-money laundering and combatting the financing of terrorism and proliferation financing. The training focused on promoting an understanding of measures within the TCI to ensure the effectiveness of its' framework to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and weapons proliferation.

The training was held on Tuesday, 23rd July, 2019 in the Ministry of Finance Conference Room, Providenciales. Areas covered included an overview of FATF Standards, the TCI’s National Risk Assessment Report and its Outcomes- National AML/CFT Strategy and Action Plan, application of Targeted Financial Sanctions in the TCI and the FATF Mutual Evaluation Process. In attendance were officials from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Gaming Department, Ministry of Immigration, Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, Customs Department, Integrity Commission and the Attorney General’s Chambers.

ENDS