AG: Corruption is like a disease

YVONNE WEBB

Stating that corruption is the number one issue facing the country, Attorney General Faris Al Rawi said within one month’s time , a strategy unlike any other used before, will come into effect to deal with this disease. He said the fight will be taken against guns, drugs, human trafficking and counter terrorism, but the main fight will be against money laundering.

Al Rawi said the intention of the strategy, he identified as ‘follow the money’, is to hit the corrupt where it hurts...in their pockets.

Addressing guests at San Fernando Mayor Junia Regrello’s charity ball Saturday night at San Fernando City Auditorium, Al Rawi said government is equally challenged by corruption, crime and the ability to pay wages at the end of every month.

He said with the GDP from oil and gas moving from 33.6 percent to 1.3 percent, “on an average day, the hardest exercise for government is to ensure salaries are paid. The police can tell you the number one issue next is crime. We all know of elements of corruption. Some of us accept it as a part of life,” Al Rawi said.

As an example, he spoke of 120,000 cars registered per year and to get vehicles off the port quickly, some people pay $500 for a certified copy to facilitate the process. “Multiply 120,000 vehicles by $500 and somebody is earning $60 million in corrupt activities,” Al Rawi said.

On money laundering, he said when people know of properties acquired through illicit gains and turn a blind eye, “we are dealing with the concept of money laundering.” Government’s enterprise in treating with corruption and criminality is a dedicated mission which begins in a month’s time, and its called, ‘follow the money’,” he said.