[www.inewsguyana.com] – The United States of America, Britain, Canada and Europe (ABCE) in a joint statement signed by their Head of Delegations here in Guyana say the willingness demonstrated by all parties to move Guyana toward compliance with international Anti Money Laundering/Combatting the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) standards is most welcomed.
The grouping, which comprises Guyana’s main donor countries, says it particularly welcomes and supports the move to have updated legislation and enhanced investigative capacity.
To this end, representatives from the four countries have met with all stakeholders, including those from government, opposition, civil society, and the private sector on many occasions since 2012.
“Our governments are, and will continue to be, actively engaged to support effective implementation of AML/CFT legislation and prosecution of money launderers and financers of terrorism.”
The grouping in the statement sought to encourage all stakeholders to work together to finalize AML/CFT legislation and ensure its effective implementation in order to prevent and combat money laundering and terrorist financing, as well as to avoid the serious consequences that would arise from black-listing by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
The statement was signed and endorsed by D. Brent Hardt, Ambassador of the United States of America, Andrew Ayre, High Commissioner of the United Kingdom, Nicole Giles, High Commissioner of Canada and Robert Kopecky, Ambassador of the European Union
The Guyana Government is currently pushing for the completion of the amendments to the AML/CFT Bill which is currently in a Parliamentary Special Select Committee under consideration, for a possible mid-February review by FATF after its latest ranking of countries in terms of its level of delinquency for implementing measuring to fight money laundering and the financing of terrorism has ranked Guyana as the highest.
