ENFORCE PROCEEDS OF CRIME LEGISLATION

British High Commissioner, Her Excellency Victoria Dean,
as she made remarks at the opening of the two-day
Proceeds of Crime Judicial Symposium at the
Barbados Supreme Court on Tuesday.

While most English-speaking Caribbean countries have had proceeds of crime legislation for almost 20 years, this legislation has rarely been used, if at all, to confiscate the assets of convicted criminals, who have made a business out of organised crime.

While delivering remarks at the opening of a two-day Proceeds of Crime Judicial Symposium held at the Barbados Supreme Court on Tuesday, British High Commissioner, Her Excellency Victoria Dean, noted the above, while calling for the pragmatic application of proceeds of crime legislation across the Caribbean as a means of deterring impressionable young people from being tempted by the trappings of a criminal lifestyle.

“Trafficking in drugs continues to offer the criminal the highest profit margin. The World Drug Report of 2010 indicates that drug trafficking is a 320 billion US dollar industry per year. This highlights the significant challenges that small countries face, as they commit precious resources in taking the fight to criminals involved in drug trafficking and money laundering,” the British High Commissioner pointed out.

“In addition to tackling drug trafficking, proceeds of crime legislation can be used to target all acquisitive crime such as fraud, people trafficking and corruption,” Dean added.

The British High Commissioner also suggested that a properly run proceeds of crime recovery programme will not only serve to remove from the hands of criminals their ill-gotten gains, but it will also send out a signal to decent, right-minded individuals that crime does not pay.

“The removal of money and assets obtained through unlawful conduct from criminals can be fed back into worthwhile causes, such as more effective criminal justice systems, hospitals and schools,” Dean suggested.

“A criminal who is seen to have a lavish lifestyle can gain and hold respect within the community, particularly in countries of relatively small populations. If they are prosecuted and their assets are taken away from them, this can send an important message to the community,” Her Excellency asserted.

“However, if the legislation is not enforced, it will be viewed as little more than a paper tiger and criminals will continue to target those jurisdictions that they view to be a soft touch when it comes to dealing with money laundering and asset recovery,” Dean maintained.

The British High Commissioner, however, acknowledged that the UK Government, through the Department for International Development funded Caribbean Criminal Assets Recovery Programme (CCARP), has made a commitment to support law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to confiscate the assets of organised criminals in Belize and Guyana and the Eastern Caribbean, and to seize £5 million worth of the proceeds of crime over the 2011-2015 period. (RSM)