AG: TT leader in terrorism fight

TT has emerged as a regional leader in the fight against terrorism with its laws being used a model for other Caribbean countries.

Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi stated this as Government successfully obtained orders from the High Court freezing the assets of 135 people and five organisations under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

This brings to 506, the number of people and entities, locally and abroad, whose assets have been frozen under the act since November 2015.

In a media release on Friday, the Office of the Attorney General & Legal Affairs stated it had successfully obtained orders against 135 individuals and five entities listed on the United Nations Security Council 1988 Sanctions List (UN’s 1988 Sanctions List).

Al-Rawi, in an interview, said this is a continuation of applying the necessary laws as TT was preparing for another assessment of its Financial Action Task Force (FATF) compliance due on January 4, 2019.

“So we are continuing to maintain our compliance, we are continuing to lead the way in anti-terrorism, our international partners have so recognised what we are doing, they have adopted this AG’s strategy and these laws are the model laws and the model methods,” Al-Rawi told Newsday.

“This order we have done, orders against the 506 entities around the world, and including local Trinidad and Tobago people, like Shane Crawford, like Kareem Ibrahim.”

“Today’s scope was a continuation of applying the laws, the Income Tax Amendment Bill, it’s not only income tax they are looking at, its anti-terrorism, money laundering, FIU, all of these things we have been pushing as a government, we are coming up for reviews and ratings.”

Al-Rawi said TT is "absolutely" ready for next month's assessment.

“We have made good advancement so far, the assessment teams have given warm congratulations to TT for what it has done,” he said.

“Trinidad and Tobago has become the regional leader in this fight and our laws are the model of success and the rest of the world takes us seriously.”

In the release, the ministry also stated the order requires that the FIU be immediately notified if a listed entity or individual has funds with any financial institutions or businesses in TT.

“The financial institution or listed business is also obliged not to proceed with such transaction or continue such relationship. These and other measures implemented through such orders thus have the effect of restricting the access of listed entities and individuals to our domestic financial market, thereby protecting the integrity and enhancing the transparency of Trinidad and Tobago’s financial system in the fight against terrorism and terrorism financing.”

Al-Rawi said this was the preferred method of closing down the financing of global terrorism.

“You follow the money in terrorism by making sure the international banking world, through the international FIU, are aware that you have taken a step against these institutions so if somebody has a transit account passing through TT, New York, it’s known to block that transaction, so this is how you close down terrorism financing, you make sure that it's impossible for them to transact business, because we have court orders against people saying no business for you,” he said.

“Trinidad and Tobago also continues to fulfil its obligations under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1988 (2011), ensuring that all entities and individuals currently listed under the UN’s 1988 Sanctions List have been declared listed entities and their funds and property have been frozen.”