By Kenneth Thompson
President of the Sierra Leone Association (SLAJ) of Journalists says the current fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism must be a collective one that involves every Sierra Leonean.
Kelvin Lewis told a press conference organized by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) in Freetown that his association was aware of efforts by the FIU to institute policies and strategies to track down on and significantly curtail the illegal activities of money launderers and financiers of terrorism.
He continued that those steps would clearly demonstrate to the international community that “our country is not a safe haven for money launderers and financiers of terrorism”.
The SLAJ president said the venture by the FIU to familiarise itself and its activities with the public would serve as a means to alert the nation regarding the illegal activities of money launderers and financiers of terrorism within the shores of the country. He said his association looked forward to improving a tangible relationship with the FIU as they carried out their "daunting task".
Director of FIU, Ahmed Kamara, said it was about time the nation got to know about their existence and activities through the mass media that would help them realise their vision.
He explained that the unit was established in 2006 to meet the standards set by the international budget regulation, which is to set up an independent financial anti-graft unit to monitor and track the activities of money launderers and financiers of terrorism.
He continued that government in 2012 gave full autonomy to the FIU by virtue of the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Financing Terrorism Act (AML/CFT) so that “the unit could effectively coordinate the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing in Sierra Leone".
He encouraged all to come together to help in the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing.
Kamara explained that the activities of money launderers had the potential to increase crime rates and corruption that would adversely affect the standards, reputation and integrity of financial institutions while at the same time exposing them to innumerable risks.
He promised they would launch into sensitisation and campaign actions by engaging every available aspect of the country’s media.
(C) Politico 23/01/14
