Ministry of Legal Affairs

CARICOM concerned about UK AML Bill - The Chronicle Newspaper - 29th April, 2018

Details

Published: 03 May 2018

JUDGES and prosecutors from the 25 member countries of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) are gearing up for a high-level forum here on Anti-Money Laundering and the Countering of Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) on May 3rd and 4th .
But as the regional judges and prosecutors prepare to meet, CARICOM is expressing serious concern over possible sanctions its associate members could face, if the UK Parliament passes the Sanction and Anti-Money Laundering Bill.

On Tuesday, the UK Parliament is expected to debate the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill which, if passed, according to CARICOM, can have troubling effects on the financial services of the Overseas Countries and Territories.

On Saturday, CARICOM said it is cognisant that global security and financial crimes are increasingly intertwined, and therefore supports the work of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and its FATF-Style Regional Bodies (FSRB) in developing international AML/CFT standards to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.

However, CARICOM said it is concerned about the possible impositions the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill can have on its associate members. Those members include Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, The Cayman Islands and Turks & Caicos Islands.
“We are deeply concerned about the potential impact on their economies by any impositions that would go against the spirit of democracy and diminish their standards of living,” CARICOM said in a statement.

It noted that within the community, member states and associate members have utilised a significant amount of resources to achieve compliance with AML/CFT standards. Countries in the Region, CARICOM added, have also supported global initiatives led by the OECD Global Forum and have entered the necessary international agreements to facilitate the sharing of information on beneficial ownership.

“CARICOM associate members are an integral part of the Caribbean Community family whose circumstances, self-governance and democratic rights should not be disregarded,” the secretariat said, while further pointing out that “a number of… (its) associate members have for some time run successful financial centres that meet the high standards of regulation set by international standard-setting bodies such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and OECD Global Forum.”

CARICOM said instead of unilateral measures, members of the FATF and OECD Global Forum should work together to establish new international regulatory standards in areas such as beneficial ownership and tax information exchange.
“Such co-operation would be in the best interest of all in the pursuit of a more economically prosperous future, underpinned by international institutions, and where all societies, their internal institutions and peoples are respected,” it stated.

The call comes just days away from the hosting of the high-level forum for judges and prosecutors, a forum organised by the Government of Guyana in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat, CFATF and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). President David Granger; Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland; CFATF Chairman and Attorney General, Basil Williams; and CFATF Executive Director, Dawne Spicer, are expected to address the opening ceremony at the Pegasus Hotel.

Since exiting the Third Round, Guyana is increasing its efforts to bring money launderers to justice as it prepares for the Fourth Round of Mutual Evaluation. Starting from 2015, the country was able to make significant progress, resulting in it being removed from FATF’s watch list in October 2016. Currently, Guyana has an Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act in place, along with other related legislation governing supervisory bodies, financial institutions, law enforcement, and foreign affairs.

Now, it is taking steps to ensure that the legislation in place is effective. The Fourth Round of Mutual Evaluation is conducted by FATF for its members based on its 2012 Recommendations and the Methodology for Assessing Compliance with the FATF Recommendations and the Effectiveness of AML/CFT Systems (2013), which is periodically amended.

AG hints at civil action against PPP MPs over private criminal charges - The Chronicle Newspaper - 28th April, 2018

Details

Published: 03 May 2018

Attorney General, Basil Williams

ATTORNEY-General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams has hinted at the possibility of civil actions being taken against the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Members of Parliament who have brought private criminal charges against five ministers of the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Government.

The private criminal charges filed against Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence; Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton; Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan; Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson; and Minister of Public Service, Rupert Roopnaraine for the offence of Misconduct in Public Office were all dismissed by Director of Public Prosecutions, (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack.

Responding to questions on the developing issue during a press conference at his Carmichael Street, Georgetown office, the Attorney General opined that the PPP MPs who filed the private criminal charges would desist from such actions once civil actions are taken.

“I know when they have to pay millions of dollars for these malicious charges, both in libel and malicious prosecution, that would be sufficient persuasion,” Minister Williams told reporters.

He noted that the private criminal charges filed by former Attorney General under the PPP Administration, Anil Nandlall, on behalf of PPP MPs Juan Edghill and Vickram Bharrat, had no grounds and no supporting evidence, and as such were simply malicious.
“So they will have to pay for that,” he posited. However, while hinting at civil actions, the Attorney General noted that the affected ministers would have to hire their own lawyers to defend their reputation. On Wednesday, the DPP discontinued the private criminal charges instituted against Minister Jordan, Minister Patterson and Minister Roopnaraine, explaining that they were contrary to the Common Law.

In letters dated April 23, 2018 and addressed to Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, the DPP said “in pursuance of the functions of the Director of Public Prosecutions vested in article 187 (1) (c) of the Constitution of Guyana, I hereby inform you that the charge [s] instituted shall not continue against Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine (Winston Jordan and David Patterson) for the offence of Misconduct in Public Office, contrary to the Common Law.”
The PPP MPs had accused Minister Jordan and Minister Patterson of “wilfully misconducting themselves in a way which amounted to an abuse of public trust without reasonable excuse or justification,” when they paid or authorised to be paid the sum of $906,000,000 to Homestretch Development Incorporated for works done at the Durban Jubilee Park without any procurement process.

In a similar fashion, Dr. Roopnaraine was accused of abusing the public’s trust when he acted as a Director of Homestretch Development Incorporated, when the said company received $906M for works done at Durban Park.

Those private criminal charges were filed by Nandlall on Monday, the same day the DPP had discontinued similar charges filed against Minister Lawrence and Minister Norton. In taking a decision to discontinue the charges filed against Lawrence and Dr. Norton, the DPP explained to the press that the charges ought to have been reported to the police first for an investigation to be launched, then advice sought from her office. The charges were discontinued by the DPP by way of Article 187 (1) (c) of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

“These charges concern a grave issue under the criminal law in relation to two serving ministers. In the interest of good governance in the State of Guyana, such allegations ought first to have been reported to the Guyana Police Force for an investigation to be launched and the advice of the DPP sought,” the DPP explained.

Lawrence was accused of authorizing or causing the unapproved single-sourcing and purchase of drugs and medical supplies for the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, in the city of Georgetown from ANSA McAL Trading Limited for the excessive sum of $605.9M. The allegation was made against the Public Health Minister even though the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) had long cleared her of any wrong-doing.

On the other hand, Dr. Norton while performing the duties of Minister of Public Health, allegedly abused the public’s trust when he authorised or caused the rental of the Lot 29 Sussex Street, Albouystown Bond from Linden Holdings Incorporated for the sum of $12.5M, exclusive of VAT, per month.

The private criminal charges filed against the government ministers followed charges instituted against former Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh and former head of NICIL, Winston Brassington, by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) for Misconduct in Public Office.

The duo is to appear before the court on May 7, 2018 to answer charges relating to the sale of state lands at prices below what they were valued. Government has since described the move by the PPP as malicious and represented political grandstanding.

Launderers building houses to wash dirty money - The Chronicle Newspaper - 1st May, 2018

Details

Published: 02 May 2018

Attorney General, Basil Williams addresses participants at the anti-corruption sensitisation seminar for Region 5.

– AG tells anti-corruption seminar

MONEY launderers have been resorting to building houses to hide their ill-gotten money since the traditional system of laundering such as remittances can no longer be used, Attorney General Basil Williams told an anti-corruption seminar in Fort Wellington on Monday.

The Attorney General’s Chambers took their Anti-Corruption Sensitisation Seminar to Region 5 (Mahaica/Berbice) Monday. The team from Georgetown included Attorney General Basil Williams; Deputy Director of the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU) Mr. Aubrey Heath-Retemyer; Chief Parliamentary Counsel, Charles Fung-a-Fatt; Principal Parliamentary Counsel, Ms. Joann Bond; Parliamentary Counsels Ms. Cheyenne Lall, Dianne Woolford and Ariel Haynes; Legislative Drafting Consultant, Mrs. Ananda Dhurjon and Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs Teshana James-Lake.

The venue was the boardroom of the Regional Democratic Council at Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice (WCB).The participants included staff of the regional administration, teachers, health workers, overseers and other staff of the ten Neighborhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and other public servants of Region 5, as well as members of the disciplined services.

In his address, Williams told the participants that the seminar was intended to sensitise them of the pitfalls of corruption and of the economic importance to the country of an unbribable public service. He stressed: “This is a struggle we have as a country; a struggle against embedded corruption, since the more rampant the corruption, the greater the poverty of the country.” He noted that Guyana’s standing in this regard in the past was very bad but strides have been made.

Region Five, REO Ovid Morrison welcomes the legal team and

participants at the anti-corruption sensitisation seminar for Region 5.

According to him, the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) has been working on anti-money laundering and countering of terrorist financing and then the financial crimes came about after audits. He said that he had been told that as a result of anti-corruption strides made, some people had been resorting to building houses to store their ill-gotten money, since the traditional system of money laundering such as remittances can no longer be used. He stated that the developed world is taking even greater interest in fighting the scourge of corruption, since it is their money that is being taken in the form of grants and loans. “They are interested in transparency and accountability for the monies that come from their own workers in their country. They are not prepared to take the earnings of their workers, bring it to our country and then we have people here pilfering it and using it for purposes other than its aim of improving the lives of people in the villages and in the communities and the country as a whole,” Williams told the seminar. He urged the participants to join in this battle against corruption and to disseminate the message of anti-corruption in their agencies and in the communities in which they live and everywhere they go.

He also addressed the recent charges of misconduct in public office of officials of the previous administration which stemmed from three years of investigations by the police and on the advice of Police Legal Advisor Claudette Singh SC. Former Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh and former head of NICIL, Winston Brassington have been charged by SOCU.
On the contrary, he said the charges laid by the People’s Progressive Party against Ministers Volda Lawrence and Dr George Norton had not had the benefit of such rigorous investigations and as such, were considered to be more of a nuisance value and more of an attempt to denigrate the character of these officials than anything else. The Director of Public Prosecutions has since dismissed the charges against the ministers. The participants and the members of the legal team were welcomed to the Region by the Regional Executive Officer, Mr. Ovid Morrison and Member of Parliament, Ms. Jennifer Wade. During the seminar, Mrs. Ananda Dhurjon gave an overview of the State Assets Recovery Act and Mr. Aubrey Retemyer, Chief Executive Officer of the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU) gave an overview of the unit.

Participants heard a presentation on the Protected Disclosures Act by Parliamentary Counsel, Cheyenne Lall; a presentation on the Witness Protection Act by Principal Parliamentary Counsel, Ms. Joann Bond and a presentation on the criminalization of corrupt practices by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs. Teshana James -Lake. As the event drew to a close, the presenters and the Attorney General were inundated with questions from the participants as they sought to gain more clarity on their presentations.

Juvenile Justice Bill passed - The Chronicle Newspaper - 27th April, 2018

Details

Published: 27 April 2018

Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan piloting the landmark Juvenile Justice Bill in the National Assembly on Thursday (Adrian Narine photo)

…sets criminally liable age at 14 
…abolishes as offences wandering, truancy, vagrancy

THE National Assembly on Thursday evening passed a landmark bill which when it comes into force will revolutionalise juvenile justice here- decriminalising a number of offences such as wandering, truancy and vagrancy and setting a new age of criminal liability at 14.

The passage of the bill repealed the archaic 1931 Juvenile Offenders Act and will now allow Guyana to conform to the several international Conventions to which it is a signatory. Despite repeated requests by the Opposition, People’ s Progressive Party (PPP) to have the bill referred to a Parliamentary Select Committee for further consultations, government insisted that its passage was long overdue, having been in the incubator since 2004. When it was time to vote the opposition abstained.

GET ON WITH IT 
Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan in piloting the bill, described the document as comprehensive while noting that with the passage of the legislation, status offences such as wandering, vagrancy and truancy would no longer be criminal offences. Ramjattan made it clear that the legislation has been in the making for 14 years under successive administrations. “Why shouldn’t we get on with the business?” he asked rhetorically. He noted that the legislation was the subject of extensive consultations and that it was inherited from the PPP government. “We have indicated that it will not be going to any select committee. This government will set its legislative agenda, not the opposition,” declared a feisty Ramjattan.

Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally

Meanwhile, he told the House that the Bill has “basically abolished status offences”. Status offences are those offences which criminalise behaviour patterns of children who wander or committed vagrancy, truancy or are runaways. Ramjattan posited that acts of truancy and wandering are often times a result of psychological or socio-economic problems facing girls and street children. The Bill, he said, is geared at effectively tackling the “significant” issues relating to juvenile justice while stressing that Guyana will not make a jailhouse of its young people.

Guyana’s Juvenile Offender’s Act was enacted in 1931 but in order for it to reflect international juvenile justice standards in accordance with the Beijing rules and the Riyadh Guidelines, extensive recommendations were made. He spoke to recommendations in relation to the age of criminal responsibility in children, free legal services for the accused, as well as the recommendation for government to establish separate remand homes for boys and girls under the age of 18 who would have had run-ins with the law, as well as improving training programmes for professionals involved in rehabilitating the youth.

The minister who thanked all stakeholders, made it clear that there was a hiatus in moving forward the legislation but noted that the process was advanced through collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). “This government of Guyana wants to see an Act which reflects modern philosophy of juvenile justice which strengthens the justice system for juveniles and makes it responsive to them and their situation,” the Public Security Minister said in reference to the adoption of a policy framework from England.

Additionally, the Minister said the Act is aimed at providing a framework where professionals are in the forefront, supporting juveniles rather than the police and prison wardens. “We don’t want to make a jailhouse nation of our young people,” Ramjattan stressed, while noting that it is his government’s intention to minimise the harsh punishment meted to young offenders. Those punishments, he added, stigmatise the youth for life. “We want to maximise their education, rehabilitation and reintegration into society,” the Minister stated, while noting that jails and secure confinement is not the place where a substantial amount of the country’s young people should be.

He stressed the need for juveniles to be with “humane incarceration”. “This Bill I am proud to say makes provision for this alternative—it is referred to as diversion…diverting the juvenile away from the formal court procedures to informal procedures, that include restorative measures to deal with a juvenile alleged to have committed an offence.”

The Bill speaks of several alternatives sanctions that could be imposed on youths who have been deemed culpable. Those range from the accused issuing an apology, to being sent to specified vocational or educational centres, as well as being sentenced to community service. They can also be ordered to compensation for the victim in an amount which the juvenile’s family can afford.

Moreover, before the commencement of proceedings the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) or the police officer can consider warnings and referrals. Other alternative sanctions can come from the newly created office of juvenile justice, but it up to the creativity of that office to come up with innovative diversions to ensure the young offenders are dealt with in a manner appropriate to his or her well-being and proportionate to the circumstances of the offence.

CRIMINAL LIABILITY 
Meanwhile, of particular interest was determining the age of criminal liability. Consideration has been given to whether the age of responsibility should remain at 10 or increased to 12 or 16 years. The Bill states that the age of criminal liability stands at 14. Ramjattan said experts from other Caribbean countries were contacted to see what the standard was across the Region.

Additionally, the minister said the legislation aims too at removing the levels of discrimination against the youth as opposed to adults as it relates to status offences. “These are acts not considered criminal when committed by adults but when young children commit them they are convicted, sometimes for secure confinement…and they are wandered, committed vagrancy or are regarded as truants. There is an inherent injustice here and discrimination on grounds of age,” declared Ramjattan.

The minister said a number of children have been sentenced at the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) for wandering. He said in 2015, based on statistics, some 30 children were sent to the institution for status offences. “These offences must be abolished,” he declared, noting that there must be an enhancement of humaneness and equity by reducing the use of confinement as a penalty.

Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan

“Mr Speaker, we must not betray young people by continuing the imposition of custodial sentences. This must only be an exercise of last resort where nothing else is left to protect the public.” Ramjattan acknowledged that the revolution which the Bill creates will require a number of changes and huge amounts of resources. He stressed that the changes must include mind set changes. Ramjattan said support will be provided by the government to ensure these changes take place. He noted that resources must be found to establish placement facilities which will support the new juvenile justice regime.

“Retraining of policemen, prosecutors, magistrates and judges will also see expenditures rise but for our young people involved…most of whom are products of dysfunctional families, we must invest today in realistic, rational, sensitive and supportive interventions to reap the dividends of more secure families, safer communities and ultimately a stable nation tomorrow.” He stressed that an ideal legislation is a myth but noted that efforts can be made to improve that which exists over time.

COMPREHENSIVE BILL 
Opposition Member, Dr Frank Anthony agreed that the Bill is a comprehensive one which has a progressive approach which speaks to rehabilitation rather than punishment of juveniles who encountered problems with the law. Outlining the history relative to the reform of the legislation, Dr Anthony, a former Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport said, in 2004 Guyana was told its 1931 law did not conform to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

While some aspects of the legislation found favour with him, he objected to the proposed increase in the age limit from 10 years to 14 years at which time a child cannot be charged for criminal acts. He like many of his colleagues suggested that Guyana’s age of criminal responsibility be 12. “That is something we have to look at because that is not expressed in the Bill before us,” he said.

He said even as the Bill suggests that the age be taken up to 14, it makes no provision for a young person under the age of 14 who commits a serious crime. He questioned how such a child would be dealt with. “Mr Speaker, we feel that there are some very small grey areas that we can quickly sort out and if he would consider that we take this Bill to the select committee so we can iron out these small areas so that we can have unanimity,” he concluded.

Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira

Dr Anthony’s call for the Bill to be sent to a Special Select Committee was echoed by Dr Vindhya Persaud and Priya Manickchand. While they commended the government in bringing the Bill to the House, they stressed the need for more consultations with civil society. “There are many deep seated reasons for the phenomenon of youth crime that we cannot ignore in the country in which we live. Violence and crime perpetrated by young people are caused by many factors that work simultaneously to create situations of social instability,” said Dr Persaud.

She stressed that the Bill requires tangible efforts from all stakeholders that can make a tangible impact in what is to be achieved and called for a special juvenile court, specialised lawyers, and the provision of community-based services for rehabilitation and reintegration, as well as right to privacy through media coverage. Similarly, Manickchand said she is pleased that truancy and wandering will no longer be considered offences, citing that as a progressive move and fits squarely into what the country’s vision is for children but contended that there are areas that require more deliberation and clarity. “I see no harm in it going to the Special Select Committee to be addressed so that we can get the best out of it,” she told the House.

Manickchand posited that the Bill at this point cannot be brought into force as Guyana currently does not have the resources to meet some of the provisions outlined in the Bill. She said too, that it would be improper for persons who have concerns about the age of criminality to be dismissed. “This is a piece of legislation that is needed in this country, this is a piece of legislation that I would have great difficulty not supporting so this is a piece of legislation that can be perfected. What is wrong with going to the Select Committee and fine-tuning this piece of legislation?”

However, Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally made it clear that the Bill was the subject of many consultations, while noting that it aims to protect children from harm. “This reformed Bill will hold young offenders accountable for their actions…and increase their chance of having a better life,” she said, while pointing to Article 38 (b) of the Constitution which stated that the best interest of the child should be the primary consideration in all judicial proceedings.

“No longer will our youth be placed before the court for status offences such as wandering and truancy—these crimes will finally be abolished and decriminalised— this will be a major achievement in Guyana’s juvenile justice system,” the Social Protection Minister stated. Ally noted that over 70 per cent of the country’s youth housed at the NOC are there for charges relating to wandering or truancy, as well as other minor offences. She noted that wandering is a principal reason for the loss of a child’s liberty.

“Many of these children are a product of their environment…they come into conflict with the law for many reasons- poverty, family break up, unemployment, migration, substance abuse, pressure exhorted by peers or adults, violence, abuse and exploitation to name a few,” she said, while calling on all Members of Parliament to change the situation.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams, SC. described the bill as timely, relevant and long overdue. He stressed that in all matters concerning children, the best interest of the child should be paramount. Williams said the modern legislation seeks to ensure that the interest of all juveniles is of utmost importance. He said the main aim of the juvenile justice system is rehabilitation and not punishment. He stressed that the ultimate goal is giving the juvenile another chance to take up a responsible place in society. “Let us not fail our most vulnerable but let us offer them an opportunity to be rehabilitated so they can make a tangible contribution to building a beautiful society.”

Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira argued that the government should not be opposed to sending the legislation to the Select Committee. “I can’t understand the government’s reluctance on sending the Bill to the Select Committee—what is your problem? You are in the chair, not us,” declared Teixeira. Former Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee and Opposition MP Jillian Burton also spoke on the Bill.

Guyana to host major CFATF confab for judges, prosecutors - The Chronicle Newspaper - 27th April, 2018

Details

Published: 27 April 2018

Judges and prosecutors from the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) member states will converge in Guyana next week to participate in an Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) workshop organised by the Government of Guyana in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat, CFATF and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

The two-day workshop is set to open on Thursday May 3, 2018 at the Pegasus Hotel. President David Granger; Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland; CFATF Chairman and Attorney General, Basil Williams; and CFATF Executive Director, Dawne Spicer are expected to address the officials present.

During a press conference at his Carmichael Street Office, the Attorney General disclosed that one judge and one prosecutor are expected from each of the 25 CFATF member countries. These countries include: Aruba, Barbados, Belize, El Salvador, Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Venezuela, Dominica, The Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Guyana will be represented by Justice Navendra Singh, Justice Jo-Ann Barlow and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Alli-Hack. An estimated number of 70 officials, including teams from the Commonwealth Secretariat and the CFATF Secretariat are expected to attend the forum here.

Minister Williams noted that in addition to the issues of money laundering and the financing of terrorism, the violent extremism will also take centre stage as the judges and prosecutors discuss counter measures and their roles in this integral process. The workshop is also being held at a time when Guyana is preparing for the 4th round of Mutual Evaluation in which major emphasis is placed on ‘Technical Compliance’ and ‘Effectiveness’ in the AML/CFT regime.

“With a better understanding on the part of judges and the prosecution who would have to push any charges in relation to money laundering, we believe that this understanding could result in a more effective approach to one, doing investigations into money laundering, proffering charges for money laundering and successful prosecution of those charges, before a judge who also would be very informed about a particular regime Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism,” Minister Williams said as he explained the importance of the workshop to Guyana.

CFATF is the last of nine FATF Style Reporting Bodies (FSRB) to be hosting the workshop with judges and prosecutors. On the evening of May 3, 2018, a reception will be held at State House for the officers, and on May 4, 2018, a cultural ceremony would be held at the Umana Yana.

The AML/CFT workshop for judges and prosecutors is coming approximately four months after the country hosted a CFATF assessors training session. That seminar equipped participants with the tools and competencies needed to undertake an assessment of the technical compliance with the revised FATF recommendations, and for reviewing the level of effectiveness of a country’s Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) regime. Participants were also introduced to the use of the FATF Methodology which is used to assess a country’s technical compliance with the FATF recommendations, and for reviewing the level of effectiveness of a country’s AML/CFT system under the Fourth Round Mutual Evaluations process.