OVERVIEW OF THE FIA
+ Mission
To identify perpetrators of money laundering, terrorist financing and connected crimes for dissemination to relevant authorities for further investigation.
+ Vision
That where it occurs, perpetrators of money laundering, terrorist financing and connected crimes are detected and brought to justice, ultimately becoming a deterrent to the commission of these offences in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
+ Values
Professionalism – In interaction with work colleagues, public offices and the public. Courtesy – Commitment to and work towards ensuring a harmonious work environment Quality work and products – Pride in our work and product output
History of the Financial Intelligence Agency
The Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) serves as the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) for the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) and is one of more than 150 FIUs making up the Egmont Group. The Egmont Group is an informal network of national FIUs which provides a platform for the secure exchange of expertise and financial intelligence to combat money laundering and terrorist financing (ML/TF). An FIU is a central, national authority responsible for receiving and, as permitted, requesting, analyzing and disseminating to competent authorities disclosures of financial information concerning suspected proceeds of crime and potential financing of terrorism or required by national legislation or regulation to combat money laundering and terrorism financing.
The Financial Intelligence Agency of the Turks and Caicos Islands, formerly called the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), was established as a statutory body with the commencement of the FIA Ordinance in October 2014. The FIA is responsible for the receipt, storage, analysis and dissemination of information related to Anti Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism and connected crimes in observance of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) international standards on combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism and proliferation.
The FIA previously existed within the operational structure of the Financial Crimes Unit (FCU) of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) and shared the work space wherever the FCU was located, namely Williams Plaza on Old Airport Road, then in 2007 Traveler’s Rest, Francis Rigby Building on Airport Road and September 2012 Police Headquarters – B Division on Old Airport Road Providenciales. It was subsequently relocated to Cabot House Leeward Highway Providenciales in March 2014.
Heads of FIA-TCI (Past and Present):
Inspector Dwayne Baker – Director of FIA (17/08/2014 – Present)
Acting Inspector Dwayne Baker – Officer in Charge of FIU (22/09/2012 – 16/08/2014)
Inspector Willin Belliard – Head of FIU (08/2011 – 21/09/2012)
Inspector Kenville Charles – Head of FCU/ FIU (03/2010 – 08/2011)
Assistant Superintendent Mark Knighton – Head of FCU/FIU (2007 – 2011)