Aug 15th, 2023: On August 15th, 2023, the FIA engaged in a training session which members of the GCC. Areas explored included the role of the GCC in the wider anti money laundering/ combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) industry, AML concepts, suspicious activity reporting, financial intelligence and sanctions as it relates to the gaming industry. The session was very informative and interactive. The FIA thanks the GCC for extending the invitation. We look forward to participating in more sessions such as these. Presenters were: Ms. Arlene Deveaux, GCC AML Coordinator, and Mrs. Kaisha Phillips-Wharton (Ag. Deputy Director/Financial Intelligence Officer) with Financial Intelligence Analyst, Daniella Mohammed providing support (See photo gallery below).

July 3rd – 7th, 2023: The 29th Egmont Group Plenary and Working Groups meetings were held 03- 07 July 2023 at the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Meetings of the various Egmont working groups and the Plenary were expertly facilitated by the Egmont Group Secretariat under the auspices of our gracious hosts the Financial Intelligence Unit of the UAE and the government and people of the UAE. The Financial Intelligence Agency of the Turks and Caicos Islands (FIA-TCI) was represented at the meetings by Director Mr. Dwayne Baker. One of the major themes at the Plenary was developments in artificial intelligence, and opportunities for its use as an important tool for Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. (See Photo Gallery below).

April 12th – 14th, 2023: Director of the Financial Intelligence Agency Mr. Dwayne Baker, CAMS participated in the 6th Anti Money Laundering Financial Crimes (AMLFC) Institute Conference, and the 8th Compliance Aid Anti Money Laundering and Financial Crimes Prevention Conference. The conference was held in Miami, USA at the Kimpton Epic Hotel. The Director made joint presentations on the following topics: “The New face of Sanctions obligations on Regulated Entities: Key risks and effect”; and “The Working Relationship: Financial Intelligence Units & Law Enforcement.” The Director also participated in the Regulators panel discussion which addressed current trends and expectations of regulated entities regarding anti money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT). That session provided an opportunity for attendees to pose pressing questions directly to the regulators. The conferences focus on Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Financial Crimes Prevention, and target regulated entities of the entire Caribbean basin.

March 16th, 2023: During the period February 13th to March 16th, 2023, the FIA conducted a second round of its AML/CFT Outreach and Awareness program. The aim of the sessions was for participants to gain an understanding of the role of the FIA, key players in the industry, suspicious activity reporting, AML/CFT concepts – terrorism and terrorism financing, proliferation financing, sanctions notices and reporting, and offences or penalties under the proceeds of crime (POCO) ordinance. This second phase of the Outreach & Awareness program helped to remedy the feedback of “limited outreach and awareness” regarding AML/CFT highlighted as a deficiency in the 2020 CFATF Mutual Evaluation Report (MER). The FIA’s team completed various categories of AML/CFT introductory and sector specific presentations. Brochures were also prepared and distributed to all participants and included four (4) sector specific brochures for Q4 of FY22_23 sessions, these can be accessed on the Downloads page.

December 20th 2022: The TCI has now achieved Compliant and Largely Compliant ratings on 35/40 of the FATF AML/CTF/CPF global standards following  the 55th Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) Plenary held in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. Click HERE to view the report which is also available on our Downloads page.

November 29^th 2022: The Financial Intelligence Agency of the Turks and Caicos Islands (FIA-TCI) at the 55^th Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) Plenary held in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands signed memoranda of understanding with the Republic of Haiti, and the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. The MoUs are aimed at enhancing cooperation between the respective countries in the sharing of financial intelligence relating to the combating of money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing. These efforts are related to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations on anti-money laundering (AML), Counter Terrorist Financing (CTF) and Counter Proliferation Financing (CPF). The TCI recognizes the FATF standards and seeks to be fully compliant with the recommendations.

In his remarks director of the FIA Mr. Dwayne Baker stated “It is important that we develop systems for the efficient and effective sharing of intelligence that fosters greater cooperation between our countries. This initiative aligns with the TCIG’s priorities aimed at Border Protection, National Security, Crime Prevention and abatement. The FIA-TCI looks forward to enhanced cooperation with our close neighbour Haiti, our regional counterpart Guyana and further afield as we seek to detect, disrupt and assist law enforcement in the pursuit of money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing crimes which have the potential to cause harm to our economy, financial stability and ultimately our people.”
ENDS