Guyana loses US$575M in one year through capital flight
Special Task Force set up to smash smuggling ring —SARU Head
A special task force has been established to dismantle all money laundering rings in Guyana. The team will
SARU Head,
Dr. Clive Thomas
also seek to build irrefutable cases to ensure the prosecution of those found to be involved in such activities.
According to Head of the State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU), Dr. Clive Thomas, the team consists of members from the Guyana Police Force, Bank of Guyana, the Special Organized Crime Unit and several international specialists on anti-money laundering.
“We are getting strong support on this front and I am happy with the progress being made in this regard. The special task force will be looking at a number of cases with a view to breaking down the money laundering rings in Guyana, one corrupt gang at a time.
“We will also be focusing on those networks that have links to the previous regime. We have to rid this nation of the underground economy, because it is draining us of billions of dollars on an annual basis,” Dr. Thomas said.
The SARU head said that the United States of America and the United Kingdom are also on board for this “very important mission.”
The UK and the US have pledged their support to ensure that the fight against corruption under the Granger led-administration goes beyond mere talk.
Dr. Thomas said that investigations are still ongoing into various forms of corruption that were spiraling out of control under the previous regime. He recalled that both the US and the UK have told him on various occasions that they are indeed concerned about the level of corruption in Guyana hence “their readiness to assist wherever and whenever they can.”
“There are intense investigations going on right now and believe me, we here at SARU intend to see that justice is served. I wish to repeat President David Granger’s statement that those who did the crime will definitely do the time. We are building some irrefutable cases.
“We have some evidence on certain officials within the PPP who have been involved in serious money laundering activities, and these will be revealed in due time. We are receiving the help of the USA and the UK on these matters and their support to us has been tremendously helpful.”
“They see the importance of Guyana having an anti-corruption unit and they are also working along with us to provide legal support as well. They are worried about the level of corruption that has occurred over the years.
“Both countries have presented us with damning evidence that showed that the resources of this country were leaving left, right and centre under the PPP. (The perpetrators) couldn’t care less because they were simply drunk, drunk with greed.”
“When I look at some of the evidence it is astonishing. I just can’t understand how people who call themselves leaders could act so callously. It’s inhumane what they did. We were being ruled by a set of people who had no conscience.”
The economist added, “But while the US and the UK are readily assisting us, they have also insisted on the importance of getting our legislation in order. We are hoping for this to be done by year end.”
He had said, too, that SARU will place special attention on two other areas of significant illegality and corruption in Guyana, which generate massive economic haemorrhaging; illicit capital flight and the criminal underground economy.
Dr. Thomas explained that in Guyana, illicit capital flight refers to assets whether legally obtained or otherwise, that are intentionally transferred, smuggled, or sent abroad, without the knowledge of the Guyana Revenue Authority and other oversight authorities.
These, he said, are not generally intended to yield proceeds that will be returned to the country. Because these transactions are illegal, they are kept secret.
“Therefore, when capital flight occurs, the capital disappears from Guyana’s financial/asset records, even though it might turn up in records elsewhere.”
Dr. Thomas said that he now has evidence to prove that this occurred “by the billions of dollars” under the PPP/C.
“During the 1980s and 1990s, capital flight was widely acknowledged as a major problem confronting Guyana. During the 2000s, however, it has been barely referenced by the authorities. During that time, capital flight resumed with a vengeance.
“This took place because the previous ruling political elites promoted collusion, through mutually-supporting networks, with criminal endeavours seeking to evade the regulatory and oversight functions of the state,” Dr. Thomas related.
“As I have argued elsewhere, this constitutes the starkest reminder of the ongoing criminalization of the state…”
He then referred to data accumulated from two international sources responsible for annual tracking and reporting on aspects of global capital flight, including Guyana. One is the United Nations and the other is the Global Financial Integrity (GFI) founded in 2006.
Dr. Thomas noted that for the years, 2010-2012, Guyana’s illicit financial flows had averaged US$443 million or approximately $90 billion in local currency. Although these flows do not fully account for total capital flight, he said that they provide an order of magnitude for that sum.
He had said that by any standard, this is a huge amount and that it has risen rapidly during the 2000s.
“Retrospectively, the 2010-2012 average compares to US$83 million back in 2003.This had doubled to US$173 million by 2006, and more than doubled yet again by 2010 to US$575 million. The recorded growth in capital flight, therefore, has been explosive during the 2000s,” he said.
