Saint Lucia is intensifying its efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, as key agencies participate in a sensitization workshop hosted by the Attorney General’s Chambers in collaboration with the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF).
The training forms part of the island’s preparations for the fifth round of mutual evaluations, which will assess not only the strength of its legal framework but also how effectively those laws are enforced.
Deputy Executive Director of the CFATF, Wendell Lucas, underscored the shift in focus for the upcoming round of assessments.
“The fifth round is based on effectiveness,” Lucas explained. “Apart from having all the laws and policies and enforceable means, this round judges your effective implementation, that you are actually doing the work.”
He noted that the CFATF continues to support member states in strengthening their systems ahead of evaluation.
“The CFATF undertakes to work with all our member countries to ensure that they have a successful fifth round mutual evaluation,” he said.
Lucas also cautioned that despite the Caribbean’s relatively small size, the region remains vulnerable to global financial crimes.
“While we in the Caribbean might be a bit sheltered, we are still exposed because we are a subsystem of a wider society,” he stated. “The standards have taken these things into consideration and there will be aspects of that being assessed by member states.”
Permanent Secretary in the Attorney General’s Chambers, Juliana Alfred, echoed those sentiments and highlighted the importance of national preparedness ahead of Saint Lucia’s scheduled evaluation in 2028.
“Saint Lucia will be assessed in 2028 and all of us need to be aware of what the changes are and what it means for us,” Alfred said.
She emphasized that the evaluation would scrutinize how effectively institutions carry out their responsibilities, rather than simply whether laws are in place.
“In the fifth round, the focus is going to be on effectiveness, not just about our legislative framework, but how effective we are as a country in terms of meeting these recommendations,” she explained.
Alfred noted that several key institutions will come under close review, including law enforcement, the judiciary, and prosecutorial bodies.
“The work of the police in terms of investigations will come under focus. The work of the judiciary and prosecution will come under focus,” she said.
She added that evaluators will also examine tangible outcomes within the justice system.
“How many cases have we been able to successfully execute in the court systems?” Alfred asked. “Where and what exists in terms of beneficial ownership information, and is that information readily available?”
Officials say the workshop is designed to ensure that all relevant agencies understand their roles and responsibilities as Saint Lucia works to strengthen its compliance with international standards and improve its overall effectiveness in tackling financial crimes.