Attorney General and Minister of Home Affairs, Adriel Brathwaite. (FP)
It has come to the attention of the Government of Barbados that the United States of America’s (US) State Department recently named Barbados among a number of countries which the US regards as major money laundering countries.
This appears to be a position taken on 2016 reporting. Barbados is duty bound to state its position on this finding, which it considers to be misleading.
In respect of Barbados, the report cited a number of generic methods of money laundering that may be found in any country. While the areas of criminal activity cited are present in the country, Barbados’ best intelligence does not support the view that they are at proportions which would have a significant impact on the local economy, or cause the faintest ripple in the international financial sector.
The illegal drugs trade is the crime which is of greatest concern in the country. This trade gives birth to other criminal activity. For instance, it is believed that the importation and use of unlicensed firearms is closely connected to the drugs trade.
The drugs trade is also the most profitable acquisitive crime on the island; hence, it has potential implications for the financial sector. These threats are understood and are being addressed with some degree of success.
Barbados has deployed significant resources to combat criminal activity of every description. In particular, major resources have been directed to combating financial crime, including money laundering and fraud.
This emphasis was thought necessary because the competent authorities have recognised that the trade in illegal drugs and its offshoots have the greatest potential to distort the local economy. However, there is a big gap between potential and actuality. Policies and programmes are in place to ensure that this potential never becomes reality.
Local crime is only influenced by external factors to the extent that drugs and firearms are imported into the country. Barbados is not a producer of drugs for export and neither does it manufacture guns. Local criminality may be impacted from abroad, but it has very little prospect of having an external impact, especially on the financial community.
Criminal activity in Barbados is immaterial as far as the international community is concerned. Funds which may be laundered in Barbados are miniscule when measured on the scale of international laundering.
Barbados is not a world financial centre and, therefore, any larger than usual financial transaction which takes place here will receive immediate attention, both here and abroad. Large-scale launderers know that the place to hide a tree is in the forest. Barbados does not fit that bill.
The authorities in Barbados will continue to do all in their power to ensure that this country remains a clean and safe jurisdiction in which to live, work and do business.
Attorney General’s Office