The Proceeds of Crime Act in Anguilla is being further tested as Financial Investigators from Anguilla and some of the British Overseas Territories, Dominica and Barbados focus in depth on all aspects of its provisions.
Financial Investigators from Bermuda, Turks and Caicos, BVI, Cayman Islands and Monsterrat are participating in the two-week intense workshop.
The workshop is being conducted by former Financial Investigators and Trainers from the United Kingdom – Mr Gerry Doyle and Mr Rod Stokes who work for IML Global Consultant Limited.
Mr Stokes has worked in the region since 2007 with the British High Commission in Barbados, and is a financial trainer and mentor across the Eastern Caribbean as well as in Guyana and Belize.
Head of the Financial Investigation Unit of the Royal Anguilla Police Force, Detective Inspector Ian McDonald, said the workshop was to prevent criminal activities in the region.
He explained that rather than having officers from Anguilla travel to the UK it was more feasible to have the course in Anguilla.
The Detective Inspector said both Mr Doyle and Stokes developed a course specifically for Anguilla not only in terms of what happens on the island but also the region.
He went on:“There will be several outside speakers, including law enforcement officers and prosecutors from French and Dutch St Marten because criminals don’t respect borders – in fact they exploit borders, so it up to us as law enforcement, not only in the British West Indies, but the French and Dutch WI, to make sure that we cooperate together – as far as our legislation will allow – to make life difficult for organized criminals.”
Speaking at the opening ceremony on Monday morning, Mr Stokes said, “We are in essence going to be taking the Proceeds of Crime Act 2009 from Anguilla through its full practical implementation, across all the powers that iare contained in it – the civil powers, the criminal powers from cash seizure, civil recovery, money laundering, restraint and confiscation.”
Her Excellency the Governor, Christina Scott, observed that, while she was only four months in her post, she recognized how well the Royal Anguilla Police Force collaborates with its colleagues from the region including the British Overseas Territories.
Her Excellency noted that workshop was also aimed at disrupting criminals in their illegal activities. She said:
“It is important because what you are doing here is attacking criminals where it hurts most – in their pockets, disrupting their behavior. You are helping to support and uphold a fair and just financial services sector where there is no space for criminal behavior. You are making the Caribbean a much less attractive place for criminals – that is a really important battle that we all need to fight together. And by extracting and getting your hands on some of their cash you are helping, in turn, to improve the rights and retribution that is given to victims of these sorts of crime, but you are helping to improve its enforcement.”
Her Excellency pointed out that the two-week Financial Investigation course was funded by the proceeds of crime – monies that were confiscated from criminal activities.
