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FM
Former Member

Guyana peeved at US’ listing of Guyana, other Caricom member states as “major” money launderers

in Business, News May 12, 2017, https://demerarawaves.com/2017...or-money-launderers/

Guyana’s Finance Minister, Winston Jordan is peeved that his country and several other sister Caribbean Community (Caricom) nations have been listed by the United States (US) as “major money laundering countries.”

“It is denial of all of the efforts that we in the Caribbean have been making to make our countries safer, to rid our countries of bad money and so on and I guess if it is not back to the drawing board, we will have to collectively mount a rearguard to stem whatever fall-out may come from such bold headlines,” he said.

In the US State Department’s 2017 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report,  Guyana was observed as having a large cash-based economy. “There is a culture of using informal networks to move money between Guyana and the diaspora, and Guyana has a large cash-based economy. Many criminals use cash couriers or familial networks to move large sums of money between Guyana and the United States.

Unregulated currency exchange houses also pose a risk, as they are used both for the exchange of currency and to transfer funds to and from the diaspora. Additionally, casinos are legal in Guyana and pose a risk for money laundering. Guyana has one casino,” the report states.

Jordan said Caricom would have to mount a major diplomatic offensive against that listing although they are not on the list of the global financial crimes watchdogs such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF).

Except for the United Kingdom’s (UK) overseas territory of Montserrat, all the 14 other full Caricom member nations have been categorised as “major money laundering countries.”

Caricom Secretary General, Irwin La Rocque said he has already contacted the US and individual member-states have already done so through their ambassadors in Washington DC. He said the matter would be on the agenda of Caricom foreign ministers when they meet in Barbados next week.

“This is not the way to do it and I have raised the matter with the US and I’m sure, I’m aware that Caricom ambassadors have done the same and we are going to continue raising it,” he said of the unilateral listing of the Caricom member states at a time when the region has been coping with the severance of correspondent banking relationships by several American banks.

With Guyana still regarded by the US as a transit country for South American cocaine destined for Europe, the United States, Canada, West Africa, and the Caribbean, the State Department has identified drugs trafficking and corruption are believed to be the primary sources of laundered funds.

The US further described as “substantial” money laundering from other sources- human trafficking, contraband, illegal natural resource extraction, and tax evasion.

The INCS Report says launderers use  fictitious agreements of sale for non-existing precious minerals to support large cash deposits at financial institutions; cross-border transport of small volumes of precious metals, declared as scrap or broken jewelry to avoid scrutiny by the relevant officials and the payment of relevant taxes and duties and the use of middle and senior-aged cash couriers for the cross-border transport of large sums of U.S. dollars.

The US recommended that Guyana embark on a series of measures to further tighten the system against money laundering. “Guyana should raise awareness and understanding of AML (Anti-Money Laundering) laws and implementation procedures,through training and the publication of guidelines, within the judicial system and in agencies with the authority to investigate financial crimes,” said the State Department.

Suspicious Transaction Reports, wire transfers, and customer due diligence regulations should be strengthened and additional resources extended to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), says the document.

The State Department says that international experts have recommended Guyana make the following major improvements to its anti-money laundering regime: adequately criminalize money laundering; to establish a fully operational and effectively functioning FIU; institute effective measures for customer due diligence and enhanced financial transparency; and establish adequate suspicious transaction report requirements.

In recent years, Guyana has amended its Anti-Money Laundering and Countering of Financing Terrorism Act in keeping with tough recommendations by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force and the France-headquartered Financial Action Task Force.

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Demerara_Guy posted:uyana peeved at US’ listing of Guyana, other Caricom member states as “major” money launderers

in Business, News May 12, 2017, https://demerarawaves.com/2017...or-money-launderers/

Guyana’s Finance Minister, Winston Jordan is peeved that his country and several other sister Caribbean Community (Caricom) nations have been listed by the United States (US) as “major money laundering countries.”

“It is denial of all of the efforts that we in the Caribbean have been making to make our countries safer, to rid our countries of bad money and so on and I guess if it is not back to the drawing board, we will have to collectively mount a rearguard to stem whatever fall-out may come from such bold headlines,” he said.

Perhaps the PNC/AFC is sticking their heads deeper in the sand to not recognize the facts.

FM

Peeve or no peeve, if the government has a beef with the US State Dept Report, it should first look inward, soul searching. Then it will realize it has been all talk in parliament and no follow-up action on laws passed.

Let the State Dept see the government arresting and charging and trying money launderers in court, and a better report will be issued next year. Being peeved and swelling mouth and complaining won't help. 

FM

Guyana remains drug trafficking transit point

3
 

Long road ahead in fighting drug scourge

– US State Dept report

A key report on the global fight against narcotic trafficking and money laundering has been released by the United States Department of State. Entitled the

Some 1276lbs of marijuana, which were part of a drug bust at John Fernandes Wharf in 2016

“International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR)”, it shows that Guyana has a long road ahead in combating the drug scourge.

According to the report, which was released recently, Guyana is still a transit point for cocaine destined for the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, and West Africa. The report also mapped out the route for cocaine coming from Colombia, noting that it was smuggled to Venezuela, thence to Guyana via sea or air.

“Smugglers also transit land borders with Brazil, Venezuela, and Suriname. Cocaine is often concealed in legitimate commodities and smuggled via commercial maritime vessels, air transport, human couriers, “go-fast” boats or various postal methods,” the report added.

In a domestic context, the report states that “the influence of narcotics trafficking is evident in the country’s criminal justice systems and other sectors”. Traffickers, it noted, “are attracted by the country’s poorly monitored ports, remote airstrips, intricate river networks, porous land borders, and weak security sector capacity”.

In an analysis on Trinidad and Tobago, the report states that the islands’ production of marijuana is concentrated in the heavily forested mountains. However, it was observed that marijuana cultivators in the twin-island republic compete with imports from other countries, including Guyana.

Drug enforcement

Guyana, the report noted, has a drug enforcement presence at its international airports, post offices, and, to a lesser extent, at port and land-border entry points. It acknowledged the five major agencies involved in the anti-drug fight: the Guyana Police Force (GPF); Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA); the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU); the Special Organised Crimes Unit (SOCU), and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

“The GDF supports law enforcement agencies with boats, aircraft, and personnel, but has limited capacity and lacks law enforcement authority. The Guyana Coast Guard (GCG), a GDF sub-component and US partner in maritime interdiction, patrols Guyana’s territorial waters and conducts humanitarian search-and-rescue missions.”

In 2012, with US funding through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Container Control Programme (CCP) established “a multi-agency CCP Port Control Unit at the John Fernandes Wharf, Guyana’s most active port”.

The report acknowledges some success that initiative had, such as the April 2016 seizure of 48 kilograms (kg) of cocaine and in June, 579 kg of marijuana.

“Through the first six months of 2016, the GPF reported seizing 16 kg of cocaine, a significant decrease from the 134.2 kg of cocaine that was seized over the same period in 2015. CANU reported seizing 60 kg of cocaine over this period (down from 568.3 kg in 2015), and the GRA did not report any seizures. Guyanese authorities convicted 46 persons on drug-related charges during 2016,” the report said.

Drug rehabilitation

But the report paints a bleak picture of the Government’s commitment to drug rehabilitation schemes. It states that Guyana lacks a comprehensive strategy to reduce demand and adequately address drug rehabilitation.

It notes that marijuana is the most widely used drug in Guyana, followed by cocaine. But the report observes that there is only one Government body responsible for drug rehabilitation.

“The Guyana National Council for Drug Education, Rehabilitation, and Treatment, within the Ministry of Public Health, is the single Government body responsible for addressing demand reduction. Non-governmental organisations also offer rehabilitation services.”

The report acknowledged that the University of Guyana (UG) had initiated a demand reduction curriculum through funding from the Organisation of American States/Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (OAS/CICAD).

Other means of rehabilitation, the report noted, was the Skills and Knowledge for Youth Employment (SKYE) project, which the US supports as part of the CBSI.

“This provides vulnerable youth with training, mentorship, job placement and other support to increase their chances of success and to reduce youth involvement in crime and violence. The programme also supports increased use of alternative sentences, so that youth who commit minor crimes are given an opportunity to rehabilitate outside penal facilities,” the report stated.However, the report emphasises that the US is welcome to increasing its cooperation with the Government of Guyana “to advance mutual interests against the threat of international drug trafficking”.

Noting that Guyana has shown an interest in furthering collaboration under the CBSI, the report said the US was looking forward to more progress on investigations, prosecutions, extraditions and security sector capacity enhancement.In addition, the report spoke of the US Government’s expectation that Guyana would continue engagement with at-risk communities, as well as enforcement of laws against money laundering and financial crimes.

FM
Drugb posted:

But the PNC claimed they clean up the drug trade and money laundering, accounting for the drop in the economy. The US saying otherwise.

Drug trafficking and money laundering have gotten worse in Guyana. Don't expect this government to acknowledge the truth.

Billy Ram Balgobin
"In recent years, Guyana has amended its Anti-Money Laundering and Countering of Financing Terrorism Act in keeping with tough recommendations by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force and the France-headquartered Financial Action Task Force."
 
Those "recent years" are the last two years, the coalation started work on it and they have to keep working on it. Money laundering/drugs has been going on for a long time and cannot be stopped immediately....takes time.

 

cain
Mars posted:
Ramakant-P posted:

This was happening for a long time now.  Don't be surprised.

We can thank Jagdeo for turning the country into a narco state.

Jagdeo really caught in your craw! Its jackass Granger in charge now, deal with it. This bastard turn Guyana into a money laundering, drug running country in 2 years.

FM
Drugb posted:
Mars posted:
Ramakant-P posted:

This was happening for a long time now.  Don't be surprised.

We can thank Jagdeo for turning the country into a narco state.

Jagdeo really caught in your craw! Its jackass Granger in charge now, deal with it. This bastard turn Guyana into a money laundering, drug running country in 2 years.

Haul you behind that was there before the current gov't took office,the Jackass is you,blinded by your bias.

Django
Drugb posted:
Mars posted:
Ramakant-P posted:

This was happening for a long time now.  Don't be surprised.

We can thank Jagdeo for turning the country into a narco state.

Jagdeo really caught in your craw! Its jackass Granger in charge now, deal with it. This bastard turn Guyana into a money laundering, drug running country in 2 years.

Haha. It was a haven for drug lords and money launderers long before Granger came aboard. Jagdeo was the one who turned cocaine into one of our main exports. Violent crime and money laundering are byproducts of the cocaine trafficking industry.

Mars
Last edited by Mars
Mars posted:
Ramakant-P posted:

This was happening for a long time now.  Don't be surprised.

We can thank Jagdeo for turning the country into a narco state.

With the help of PNC Lear Goring and 50 months Dr. Jailbird Noel Blackman?

FM

Guyana was never a narco-State based on what is really a Narco-State. There is much more drug trafficking in Jamaica, T&T, Puerto Rico, and many other states in the Caribbean.  The then opposition, APNU and AFC, made this claim and turned into a mantra. 

Billy Ram Balgobin
skeldon_man posted:
Mars posted:
Ramakant-P posted:

This was happening for a long time now.  Don't be surprised.

We can thank Jagdeo for turning the country into a narco state.

With the help of PNC Lear Goring and 50 months Dr. Jailbird Noel Blackman?

You repeat this nonsense about Dr. Blackman and his association with cocaine. The man was found guilty of writing fraudulent prescriptions for Oxycodone. What does that have to do with cocaine trafficking, Dummy? Lear Goring was a low level drug mule who was busted taking coke for your Piss Pot brothers. None of this changes the fact that Jagdeo was in charge while the PPP transformed the country into a narco state with the help of Khan, Kalamadeen, Morgan, Nandlall, Dataram and the other big time players who the PPP supported.

Mars
Last edited by Mars

Guyana was never a narco-State based on what is really a Narco-State. There is much more drug trafficking in Jamaica, T&T, Puerto Rico, and many other states in the Caribbean.  The then opposition, APNU and AFC, made this claim and turned into a mantra. 

Billy Ram Balgobin
Mars posted:
skeldon_man posted:
Mars posted:
Ramakant-P posted:

This was happening for a long time now.  Don't be surprised.

We can thank Jagdeo for turning the country into a narco state.

With the help of PNC Lear Goring and 50 months Dr. Jailbird Noel Blackman?

You repeat this nonsense about Dr. Blackman and his association with cocaine. The man was found guilty of writing fraudulent prescriptions for Oxycodone. What does that have to do with cocaine trafficking, Dummy? Lear Goring was a low level drug mule who was busted taking coke for your Piss Pot brothers. None of this changes the fact that Jagdeo was in charge while the PPP transformed the country into a narco state with the help of Khan, Kalamadeen, Morgan, Nandlall, Dataram and the other big time players who the PPP supported.

The man was caught with a quantity of Oxycodone. He was going to sell it on the black market.

FM
skeldon_man posted:
Mars posted:
skeldon_man posted:
Mars posted:
Ramakant-P posted:

This was happening for a long time now.  Don't be surprised.

We can thank Jagdeo for turning the country into a narco state.

With the help of PNC Lear Goring and 50 months Dr. Jailbird Noel Blackman?

You repeat this nonsense about Dr. Blackman and his association with cocaine. The man was found guilty of writing fraudulent prescriptions for Oxycodone. What does that have to do with cocaine trafficking, Dummy? Lear Goring was a low level drug mule who was busted taking coke for your Piss Pot brothers. None of this changes the fact that Jagdeo was in charge while the PPP transformed the country into a narco state with the help of Khan, Kalamadeen, Morgan, Nandlall, Dataram and the other big time players who the PPP supported.

The man was caught with a quantity of Oxycodone. He was going to sell it on the black market.

You should really check yourself when you talk about "alternative facts". Dr. Blackman did not have Oxycodone in his possession and was not trying to sell it. He was busted for illegally writing prescriptions for Oxycodone. Do you understand the difference?

What does Oxycodone have to do with cocaine trafficking?

Mars
Mars posted:
Drugb posted:
Mars posted:
Ramakant-P posted:

This was happening for a long time now.  Don't be surprised.

We can thank Jagdeo for turning the country into a narco state.

Jagdeo really caught in your craw! Its jackass Granger in charge now, deal with it. This bastard turn Guyana into a money laundering, drug running country in 2 years.

Haha. It was a haven for drug lords and money launderers long before Granger came aboard. Jagdeo was the one who turned cocaine into one of our main exports. Violent crime and money laundering are byproducts of the cocaine trafficking industry.

Not according to the new US report. Granger is now accountable. Look how they have arrest warrant for your racing buddy Veira.

Cocaine is not produced in Guyana you dummy, so how an it be a main export?

FM
Drugb posted:
Mars posted:
Drugb posted:
Mars posted:
Ramakant-P posted:

This was happening for a long time now.  Don't be surprised.

We can thank Jagdeo for turning the country into a narco state.

Jagdeo really caught in your craw! Its jackass Granger in charge now, deal with it. This bastard turn Guyana into a money laundering, drug running country in 2 years.

Haha. It was a haven for drug lords and money launderers long before Granger came aboard. Jagdeo was the one who turned cocaine into one of our main exports. Violent crime and money laundering are byproducts of the cocaine trafficking industry.

Not according to the new US report. Granger is now accountable. Look how they have arrest warrant for your racing buddy Veira.

Cocaine is not produced in Guyana you dummy, so how an it be a main export?

Did the US Report state that Guyana turned into a drug running and money laundering country in the last two years under Granger? That's what you claimed, Numpty. I'm quite aware that cocaine is not being produced in Guyana. I never made that claim. It is being exported from Guyana's shores. 

Mars
Last edited by Mars
Drugb posted:

Not according to the new US report. Granger is now accountable. Look how they have arrest warrant for your racing buddy Veira.

Where could we find this bit of news? Who else is named?

cain
Last edited by cain

I told you that the putagee people into drug runnings.

CANU hunting motor racers, sawmill owner

16

Gy$500M cocaine bust

Ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) are seeking to locate local biker Stephen Vieira, West Coast Demerara businessman Tazim Gafoor, and sawmill owner Narine Lall for questioning in relation to Friday’s 187-pound cocaine bust.

Stephen Vieira

CANU has said that Vieira is listed on the shipping documents as the representative of Naraine Lall, who is the shipper of the consignment. Searches for Vieira have thus far proven futile.

FM
Drugb posted:

I told you that the putagee people into drug runnings.

CANU hunting motor racers, sawmill owner

16

Gy$500M cocaine bust

Ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) are seeking to locate local biker Stephen Vieira, West Coast Demerara businessman Tazim Gafoor, and sawmill owner Narine Lall for questioning in relation to Friday’s 187-pound cocaine bust.

Stephen Vieira

CANU has said that Vieira is listed on the shipping documents as the representative of Naraine Lall, who is the shipper of the consignment. Searches for Vieira have thus far proven futile.

Get him if he is guilty. But druggie I notice you missed the other two putagees Gafoor and Lall?

cain
cain posted:
 
Get him if he is guilty. But druggie I notice you missed the other two putagees Gafoor and Lall?
 

Wah ah gun tell yuh bai, the putagee man led the two indos astray. They pick up yall dutty habits.

FM
Drugb posted:
cain posted:
 
Get him if he is guilty. But druggie I notice you missed the other two putagees Gafoor and Lall?
 

Wah ah gun tell yuh bai, the putagee man led the two indos astray. They pick up yall dutty habits.

That's correct, Drugb. We Indians are always innocent, angelic and blameless until de blackman and putagee mafia corrupt awee, right?

But Gilly has a simple philosophy: you can never corrupt an incorruptible mind. You can never lead astray someone who has strong moral grounding.

FM
Demerara_Guy posted:
Demerara_Guy posted:uyana peeved at US’ listing of Guyana, other Caricom member states as “major” money launderers

in Business, News May 12, 2017, https://demerarawaves.com/2017...or-money-launderers/

Guyana’s Finance Minister, Winston Jordan is peeved that his country and several other sister Caribbean Community (Caricom) nations have been listed by the United States (US) as “major money laundering countries.”

“It is denial of all of the efforts that we in the Caribbean have been making to make our countries safer, to rid our countries of bad money and so on and I guess if it is not back to the drawing board, we will have to collectively mount a rearguard to stem whatever fall-out may come from such bold headlines,” he said.

Perhaps the PNC/AFC is sticking their heads deeper in the sand to not recognize the facts.

the USA research start more than two yrs 

FM
Gilbakka posted:

That's correct, Drugb. We Indians are always innocent, angelic and blameless until de blackman and putagee mafia corrupt awee, right?

But Gilly has a simple philosophy: you can never corrupt an incorruptible mind. You can never lead astray someone who has strong moral grounding.

You should know from experience. They corrupted your mind and led you to support the pnc. Now we all live in regret as Guyana go down the tube with Jackass Granger at the helm with his head in the cloud. 

FM
Drugb posted:
Gilbakka posted:

That's correct, Drugb. We Indians are always innocent, angelic and blameless until de blackman and putagee mafia corrupt awee, right?

But Gilly has a simple philosophy: you can never corrupt an incorruptible mind. You can never lead astray someone who has strong moral grounding.

You should know from experience. They corrupted your mind and led you to support the pnc. Now we all live in regret as Guyana go down the tube with Jackass Granger at the helm with his head in the cloud. 

I won't say so, you know. There's an ancient legend about wolves in sheep's clothing. You cannot fault innocent souls like Gilly for seeing the sheep in dem coalition people. Granger had said he was not Burnham but a game-changer. I still believe that a pack of wolves and money-changers had taken over Grandpa Cheddi's temple at 41 Robb Street Lacytown. Thousands think the same too. Even yuji22 think dem Rabb Street folks ent Catholic, if you know what I mean.

FM
Gilbakka posted:
Drugb posted:
Gilbakka posted:

That's correct, Drugb. We Indians are always innocent, angelic and blameless until de blackman and putagee mafia corrupt awee, right?

But Gilly has a simple philosophy: you can never corrupt an incorruptible mind. You can never lead astray someone who has strong moral grounding.

You should know from experience. They corrupted your mind and led you to support the pnc. Now we all live in regret as Guyana go down the tube with Jackass Granger at the helm with his head in the cloud. 

I won't say so, you know. There's an ancient legend about wolves in sheep's clothing. You cannot fault innocent souls like Gilly for seeing the sheep in dem coalition people. Granger had said he was not Burnham but a game-changer. I still believe that a pack of wolves and money-changers had taken over Grandpa Cheddi's temple at 41 Robb Street Lacytown. Thousands think the same too. Even yuji22 think dem Rabb Street folks ent Catholic, if you know what I mean.

Kudos for speaking the truth.

DrugB, my buddy Gilly like many others wanted change and were hoping for change based on the available information available at that time and APNU made sense for him and 51 percent of the population.

APNU disappointed everyone. 

The PPP needed a long overdue kick to pull them back in line and I am sure come 2020, we will see a revamped PPP and a People's Party.

Come 2020, I want to see more high profile Afro Guyanese representation in the PPP. The face of the PPP is too "Indo". Failing this, we will end up with an identical situation that we are experiencing under APNU.

I am past 50 years now and I want to see a more cohesive and inclusive Guyana. This tit for tat must come to an end.

 

FM
Last edited by Former Member
yuji22 posted:

Kudos for speaking the truth.

DrugB, my buddy Gilly like many others wanted change and were hoping for change based on the available information available at that time and APNU made sense for him and 51 percent of the population.

APNU disappointed everyone. 

The PPP needed a long overdue kick to pull them back in line and I am sure come 2020, we will see a revamped PPP and a People's Party.

Come 2020, I want to see more high profile Afro Guyanese representation in the PPP. The face of the PPP is too "Indo". Failing this, we will end up with an identical situation that we are experiencing under APNU.

I am past 50 years now and I want to see a more cohesive and inclusive Guyana. This tit for tat must come to an end.

 

What is apparent is that both parties, ppp/pnc don't have a vision for Guyana. Or maybe Guyana doesn't have a vision for itself. Everytime I go to the Islands for vacation, the locals bemoan that Guyana with all its resources is not able to rise above the begging bowl. 

FM
Drugb posted:
yuji22 posted:

Kudos for speaking the truth.

DrugB, my buddy Gilly like many others wanted change and were hoping for change based on the available information available at that time and APNU made sense for him and 51 percent of the population.

APNU disappointed everyone. 

The PPP needed a long overdue kick to pull them back in line and I am sure come 2020, we will see a revamped PPP and a People's Party.

Come 2020, I want to see more high profile Afro Guyanese representation in the PPP. The face of the PPP is too "Indo". Failing this, we will end up with an identical situation that we are experiencing under APNU.

I am past 50 years now and I want to see a more cohesive and inclusive Guyana. This tit for tat must come to an end.

 

What is apparent is that both parties, ppp/pnc don't have a vision for Guyana. Or maybe Guyana doesn't have a vision for itself. Everytime I go to the Islands for vacation, the locals bemoan that Guyana with all its resources is not able to rise above the begging bowl. 

With PNC in power, there are now begging bowls everywhere in Guyana.

PNC's vision is to sport, fete and wine down.

FM
yuji22 posted: I am past 50 years now and ....

 

TRANSLATION: yuji22 recently celebrated his 50th birthday. Congratulations, bhaiya. I just remembered you were 6 years old in 1973 when you witnessed dem soldiers in Corentyne hijacking de ballot boxes. My simple arithmetic tells me you were born in 1967.

FM

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