The inaugural Compliance Unit of the Anti-Money Laundering Authority, Regional Conference – Protecting the Vision of a fully compliant Anti Money Laundering (AML) Network across the Caribbean: DNFBP Edition 2024, successfully brought together key industry leaders, experts, and stakeholders from around the world to address critical issues in the fight against money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing. This year’s conference created an engaging platform for a dynamic exchange of ideas and strategies, spotlighting impactful presentations from some of the most respected professionals in the field.

Over the two-day event, distinguished speakers shared valuable perspectives, providing actionable insights to strengthen collective efforts against illicit financial activities. This inspired participants to engage in lively discussions covering essential topics such as conducting customer due diligence, identifying and reporting suspicious transactions, emerging risks involving money laundering techniques and how to effectively respond to them, and aligning with the standards needed to achieve favourable outcomes in the FATF 5th Round of Mutual Evaluations at national and regional levels.

The conference underscored the importance of collaboration and knowledge-sharing in our national, regional and global mission to combat financial crime. Keynote Speaker the Most Honourable Reginald Farley emphasized that Barbados’ approach will be rooted in “a continuous, proactive compliance programme, designed to keep the nation aligned with global standards.” Deputy Director of Public Prosecution, Jamaica, Ms. Ashtelle Steele, reinforced the shared responsibilities of the public and private sectors in the fight, leaving attendees with a powerful reminder of “the 3 Cs – Collaborate, Communicate and Cooperate.”

As we move forward, the insights gathered from this inaugural conference will serve as a cornerstone for continued progress in anti-money laundering efforts within the DNFBP sector. Recognizing the importance of an unified and proactive approach, the Compliance Unit is dedicated to building upon this momentum by organizing a series of follow-up initiatives designed to strengthen AML practices and foster deeper cooperation across the region.

To maintain momentum, we encourage all attendees and stakeholders to stay engaged through our upcoming training initiatives. Together, we can drive meaningful change and fortify our defences against financial crime, helping to build a transparent and resilient AML network across the national and regional landscapes.

 

Feedback from a few participants

“All sessions have been very informative and have provided great table conversation”

Anonymous comment on Conference App

 

“Who’s ready to sign up for next year’s conference?”

Fay Toppin

 

“The conference was an eye opener and quite informative.  Take aways are Know your customers (both internal and external ones) and document document document.  Your customer service is your first line of defensive as well as collector of key information.”

Natasha Downie

 

“Thank you for a very informative and eye opening two days, the information and panel discussions were all on point and I am more than glad that I made the effort to attend from Trinidad in person.”

Tracy Sheppard

 

“I found this two day conference to be very enlightening and it gave its participants a better understanding as to not only, record keeping, AI and assessments – it was also great to hear the examples as to what has happened in the past, and how these “cases” have been dealt with.  The networking with others – Real Estate Agents, Attorneys and those who presented on the days was great, and lovely that we could mingle in between to ask our questions as well.”

PeggyKirton