By SEAN DOUGLAS Monday, October 12 2009

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HIDDEN: Motorists can barely make out the caution message written on this sign located near Movie Towne, Invaders Bay, Port-of-Spain because of the ov...

THE Opposition last Friday expressed serious concern over who would run a new unit to combat money-laundering as the Lower House debated the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) Bill 2009 and the Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2009.

Tabaquite MP Ramesh Maharaj echoed the Independent Senators’ call for the FIU not to be set up under the Ministry of Finance, while St Augustine MP Vasant Bharath asked why the Government was refusing to state the qualifications for the FIU’s head and deputy head.

Maharaj said the international community would only pass sensitive information on to a local intelligence head whom they had vetted, as he knew such a person enjoying this trust to be ACP Raymond Craig, who had since inexplicably been transferred elsewhere. Maharaj said he had personally seen Craig on the road doing traffic duties as an officer of the Traffic Branch, but Attorney General John Jeremie insisted Craig was in the Firearms Interdiction Unit.

Maharaj said the Opposition could not be expected to vote for the FIU Bill when the Government had made no money-laundering convictions since coming to office seven years ago in 2002. Bharath said it was very strange that the Government was refusing to list in the Bill the qualifications needed for the job of FIU director and deputy director.

The character and qualifications of the head would be key to determining the FIU’s success or otherwise, he said. “We are very suspicious,” he said of the Government’s reluctance to list it. He suggested these posts be filled by an attorney or accountant.

Maharaj disagreed with a clause mandating that the FIU head and deputy head be chosen by the Public Service Commission, which he said would mean the only candidates would be public servants who in fact might not have such expertise.

“This is a specialist field, not an ordinary investigation,” said Maharaj.

Jeremie agreed with these sentiments and House Leader Colm Imbert said the issue needed to be re-visited and discussed with the Senate.

Princes Town North MP Subhas Panday said one clause (3A) of the POCA Bill would ban anyone giving information to the UFF Commission of Inquiry into Udecott.