Joint Regional Communications Centre Barbados, January 14th, 2011: In an effort to sharpen the regional response to transnational organized crime, the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) and the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFTAF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) setting forth their plans to work together on the issue of financial crimes, including money laundering and the use of the proceeds from the trade in narcotics and arms that  fund gang and terrorism related activity


“This MoU signifies a clear recognition by the Caribbean Community….of the danger that unchecked financial crime poses to our economic and political systems” said Lynne Anne Williams, the Executive Director of CARICOM IMPACS, “it is indeed, a concrete step towards the urgent implementation of measures which are critical not only to CARICOM States, but to those of the wider Caribbean Region.”

The Executive Director of the CFATF, Calvin Wilson, said that “both IMPACS and CFATF play critical roles in promoting and maintaining peace and security in the Caribbean Region.”

The cooperation between the two agencies was approved by the Tenth Meeting of the Council
for National Security and Law Enforcement in June last year and would focus on general matters to counter drug trafficking, anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism.  IMPACS and CFATF would also be collaborating on  a three year accreditation programme for financial investigators and analysts in the CARICOM/CFATF Region which will enhance the regional capacity to take the profit out of crime through asset forfeiture.  This program was designed with the assistance of the United Kingdom Security Advisory Team at the British High Commission in Barbados.  Mr. Wilson used the opportunity to offer public thanks to Ms. Williams and the staff of CARICOM IMPACS for assisting the CFTAF with identifying funding for this project.

Lt. Col Edward Croft, delivering a speech on behalf of The Honourable Dr. L. Errol Cort, Chair of the CARICOM Council for National Security and Law Enforcement (CONSLE) and Minister of National Security and Labour of Antigua and Barbuda, congratulated both agencies for their collective efforts towards functional cooperation and wished them continued success.  Invited to witness the milestone event, Lt. Col Croft is the Chair of the Standing Committee of Heads of Intelligence and Financial Investigations Units, an arm of the Regional Management Framework for Crime and Security.