UNC senator slams “bulldog agencies”

TEMPORARY Opposition Senator Sean Sobers yesterday alleged there are “bulldog agencies with no teeth” which cannot deal with money laundering, financing of terrorism and related crimes.

Sobers made this allegation in his contribution to debate on the Miscellaneous Provisions (Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, Proceeds of Crime, Financial Intelligence Unit of Trinidad and Tobago, Customs and Exchange Control) Bill, 2017 in the Senate.

Referring the Central Authority, Financial Investigations Bureau, Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and Customs and Excise Division in his contribution, Sobers claimed this situation is reflected by 27 charges for money laundering offences but no convictions over the last seven years. He said the legislation also seems to prevent local agencies from saying no to requests from foreign entities such as the Financial Action Task Force or the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force. Sobers questioned if TT was giving away its sovereignty to foreign entities through provisions in the legislation.

He also claimed the legislation could open the door for bribery and racketeering with respect to payment of back taxes on goods coming through the nation’s ports. Sobers said Customs officials have six years to deal with back taxes while importers have a shorter time to do so. While noting the bill has its merits, Sobers suggested it be referred to a joint select committee.

Independent Senator Melissa Ramkissoon wondered whether the lack of convictions which Sobers referred to was the result of confusion over the fines mentioned in the legislation. She said a fine of $25 million for certain offences was too high. Ramkissoon welcomed TT’s score of 41 in the 2017 Global Corruption Perception Index. She thanked Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi and the Government for the work they did in this regard.