Caribbean Financial Action Task Force joins Eastern Caribbean judiciary training on AML CFT and proliferation financing, highlighting mutual evaluation and asset recovery expectations

The Caribbean Financial Action Task Force reported that its Secretariat took part in AML/CFT/CPF sensitisation training for the judiciary, aimed at judges and magistrates from the nine member countries of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. Hosted by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank and the Regional Security System-Asset Recovery Unit, the session focused on international AML/CFT/CPF obligations and on the judiciary’s role in achieving effective outcomes under the Financial Action Task Force framework. The CFATF contribution centered on the importance of an efficient and independent judiciary and the rule of law, and it addressed the fifth round mutual evaluation cycle and amendments to the FATF methodology. It also outlined how courts contribute to effectiveness on international cooperation, the prioritisation of money laundering and terrorist financing cases, sanctions, asset recovery and targeted financial sanctions. More broadly, the training covered investigations, prosecutions, convictions, asset recovery and terrorist financing, while giving participants practical insight into proceeds of crime legislation across Eastern Caribbean jurisdictions. The Secretariat also reviewed Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court members' performance on Immediate Outcomes 7 and 8, including strengths and weaknesses identified in mutual evaluation reports. Discussion included new asset recovery-related requirements, such as suspension of transactions or withholding consent, and freezing and seizing criminal property and property of corresponding value without a court order, as well as the constitutionality of those measures.