The Caribbean Financial Action Task Force has published St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ first enhanced follow-up report and technical compliance re-rating, assessing the country’s progress since its fourth-round mutual evaluation. The report upgrades FATF Recommendation 5 on the terrorist financing offence from Partially Compliant to Compliant, while Recommendations 37 on mutual legal assistance and 39 on extradition remain Partially Compliant. St. Vincent and the Grenadines is now rated Compliant or Largely Compliant on 31 of the 40 FATF Recommendations. The upgrade on Recommendation 5 reflects changes under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2023, which the report says now covers the direct or indirect provision or collection of funds, use of funds in whole or in part, financing of travel for terrorist acts or terrorist training, and offences that do not depend on funds being linked to a specific terrorist act. By contrast, the report says shortcomings remain for Recommendations 37 and 39, including limits on the scope of mutual legal assistance, the apparent restriction of certain external requests under the Proceeds of Crime Act, the absence of evidence on prioritisation and case-management processes for requests, and a lack of clear processes for timely execution and prioritisation of extradition requests. Deficiencies in Recommendation 31 also continue to affect both ratings. The report states that St. Vincent and the Grenadines will remain in enhanced follow-up based on its technical compliance and effectiveness ratings.

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