CFATF Public Statement on Haiti, Suriname and Guyana

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands 9 November 2016,  - The Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) is an organisation of twenty-seven jurisdictions of the Caribbean Basin Region, which have agreed to implement the international standards for Anti-money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT), Financial Action Task Force Recommendations (FATF Recommendations). In order to protect the international financial system from money laundering and financing of terrorism (ML/FT) risks and to encourage greater compliance with the AML/CFT standards, the CFATF identified jurisdictions that have strategic deficiencies and works with them to address those deficiencies that pose a risk to the international financial system.

Jurisdiction with strategic AML/CFT deficiencies that has not made sufficient progress in addressing the deficiencies or has not complied with the Action Plan developed with the CFATF to address these deficiencies. The CFATF calls on its members to consider the risks arising from the deficiencies associated with the jurisdiction, as described below.

The CFATF calls on its members to consider the risks arising from the deficiencies associated with the jurisdiction, as described below.

Haiti

The CFATF undertook a High Level Mission (HLM) to the Republic of Haiti on Monday 27th of April 2015. Thereinafter, a letter from the CFATF Chair, was sent to Haiti on the 17th of September 2015, making reference that Haiti would remain in the second stage of enhanced of follow-up but would need to demonstrate progress. At the CFATF Plenary in November 2015, Haiti demonstrated some progress on non-legislative measures. Plenary determined that Haiti should remain in the status quo and demonstrate to the May 2016 Plenary substantial compliance with both non-legislative and legislative requirements. At the CFATF Plenary in June 2016, Haiti demonstrated that had taken steps towards improving its AML/CFT compliance regime with non-legislative actions, including providing training to FIU, Police officers, Prosecutors and Magistrates; and taking steps to join the Egmont Group. However, Plenary was not satisfied with the pace of reforms and agreed to the issuance of a public statement against Haiti asking members to consider the risk posed by Haiti. Plenary also agreed that Haiti must make sufficient progress and demonstrate such progress by the November 2016 Plenary. At the CFATF Plenary in November 2016, Haiti demonstrated that sufficient progress has been made through: the amended Law Sanctioning Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (LSMLTF) by the Chamber of Deputies on September 9th, 2016 and by the Senate on September 28th, 2016; the enactment of the new UCREF law seeking to establish the l’Unité Centrale de Renseignements Financiers (Central Financial Intelligence Unit) (UCREF) as an autonomous administrative financial intelligence unit; and the publication in the National Gazette of the Decree establishing procedures for the implementation of measures aimed at freezing funds and other assets connected with the financing of terrorism.

Haiti is encouraged to continue the reform process including the passage of the legislative framework and continue addressing its AML/CFT deficiencies.

Haiti and the CFATF should continue to work together to ensure that Haiti’s reform process is completed, by addressing its remaining deficiencies and continue implementing its Action Plan.

Jurisdiction with strategic AML/CFT deficiencies that has made significant progress in addressing these deficiencies.

Suriname

The CFATF acknowledges the significant progress made by Suriname in improving its AML/CFT regime and notes that Suriname has established the legal and regulatory framework to meet its commitments in its agreed Action Plan regarding the strategic deficiencies that the CFATF had identified. Suriname is encouraged to continue the reform process and CFATF ICRG has agreed that Suriname has met the criteria to enter into the process to exit CFATF ICRG.