T&T’s AG Anand Ramlogan elected Deputy Chair of Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF)
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Attorney General of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Senator the Honourable Anand Ramlogan SC, was today (Nov. 26th) elected deputy chair of the influential Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) at the plenary session in El Salvador. The Attorney General Martinez Gonzalez of El Salvador assumed the Chairmanship of the organisation at the meeting and expressed his eagerness to collaborate with Ramlogan on the leadership of the organisation.
AG Ramlogan was unanimously elected and will take over the reins of leadership as Chairman in November 2015.
The CFATF plays a critical role in promoting regional compliance with the international Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards on anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism.
The organisation comprises 27 countries from South and Central America and the Caribbean, with a total population of approximately 80 million persons. These countries include Venezuela, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Belize and the Cayman Islands. CFATF is responsible for monitoring and evaluating member states in an effort to achieve compliance.
This is achieved through a mutual evaluation programme.
Ramlogan said the Government of Trinidad and Tobago is committed to the eradication of money laundering and terrorism as evidenced by recent legislative measures undertaken and continued hosting of the CFATF headquarters for the secretariat in Port of Spain since 1992. He praised the cadre of competent AML/CFT professionals who staff the secretariat based in Port of Spain.
A high level meeting was held between Ramlogan as head of the Trinidad and Tobago delegation and the Salvadoran delegation to determine the agenda and policies for the coming year. Incoming Chairman, Martinez Gonzalez said he was happy to be given the opportunity to work with Ramlogan and that their preliminary discussions were fruitful and productive.
Ramlogan told the Central American media that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar had recently co-sponsored the UN Security Council Resolution against foreign terrorist fighters together with US President Barack Obama, demonstrating Trinidad and Tobago’s willingness to play a pivotal role in the region in the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
He said the government eagerly awaits the visit of Chair Martinez Gonzalez and his delegation to Trinidad next month when they visit the CFATF headquarters and they would use the opportunity to hold further talks on the implementation of their shared vision for CFATF as a premier organisation in the Americas.
