By Devina Samaroo

Contrary to what was previously disclosed, two persons are in the top running to serve as the Director of the

PPP/C MPs Gail Teixeira and Juan Edghill during the press conference on Thursday morning at Freedom House, Robb Street

Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

During a news conference on Thursday, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament (MP) and Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, who is also a member of the committee responsible for the selection of the Director, clarified that no one candidate has been identified for the position.

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams recently announced that the National Assembly’s Appointments Committee already decided on a FIU Director and its recommendation would be voted on at the next sitting of the House.

However, Teixeira explained that the committee had narrowed the list to two persons, and was currently waiting for either individual to accept the contract under the stipulated terms and conditions.

She noted that a final decision was likely to be made when the committee met on June 20.

According to the parliamentarian, a FIU Director could have been installed since the beginning of June; however, because of the Government Ministers’ hectic travelling schedules, the committee could not have met as often as it should have.

Nonetheless, Teixeira pointed out that once the committee reached a consensus, the recommendation would go to the House for approval.

When prompted, Teixeira said it would be improper to disclose the names of the two individuals vying for the position.

The FIU is a critical component of the anti-money laundering legislation.

Time and again, the Government has been criticised for its failure to ensure that a Director is appointed so that the Unit becomes fully operational.

SOCU Operation

Meanwhile, concerns continue to persist over the operations of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) without a FIU Director installed.

PPP/C MP Juan Edghill, who was also present at the news conference, said it was worrying that SOCU was carrying out investigations and making arrests without legal coverage.

“If SOCU is operating and their actions are not triggered by the FIU, then who is triggering those actions?” he queried. “Because it is the FIU that needs to say there is a suspicious transaction and an investigation needs to be launched. And if that is not coming from FIU, it is clear that SOCU is either acting on its own whimsically or under the directions of another authority apart of the FIU.” SOCU has launched several investigations involving the seizure of individuals’ possessions, both jewellery and money.

Some of those confiscations have triggered multimillion-dollar lawsuits.

Moreover, it was also disclosed that the Government was yet to provide the parliamentary Opposition with the protocols governing the operations of SOCU, despite a promise some months ago by Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan that he would make the protocols public.