By Mariama Jallow
The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the Gambia on Wednesday 13 January, 2021 commenced a two-day awareness training on Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT), for members of the Public Accounts and Public Enterprises Committees of the National Assembly of the Gambia.
Speaking at the opening ceremony held at a hotel in Senegambia, the Director of FIU, Mr. Alagie Darboe, told the gathering that the training was part of a series of awareness training programmes being organized by the FIU of the Gambia, as part of a project aimed at strengthening the anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism regimes in the Gambia.
The Financial Intelligence chief went on to state that, the project is funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and being managed by the Project Coordinating Unit (PCU) of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (MoFEA).
Darboe used the moment to salute the AfDB for Combating Money Laundering/Terrorism Financing within the Sub-region, and for their continuous support to the FIU and other Gambian institutions and authorities.
He described the National Assembly as a key component, reasoning that as lawmakers, they enact the legislations that the FIU, law enforcement authorities and other stakeholders rely on in the fight again money laundering and financing of terrorism as well as their predicate offences.
The FIU Director indicated that the FIU is mandated to, among other things, assist in the identification of proceeds of criminal conduct, and the combat of money laundering and terrorist Financing activities, to make information available to investigating authorities, the intelligence and the revenue agencies to facilitate the administration and enforcement of the law of this country.
The Chairman of FIU Board, Dr. Seeku AK Jaabi, who is also the First Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG), expressed hope that the two days training would build the required capacity and enhance the level of awareness of the NAMs to this very important global challenge.
He simplified the definition of money laundering as the process of making the proceed of a criminal activity appears to have been legally obtained.
The senior official of the country’s apex bank thanked the FIU and the African Development Bank for the financial support, to enable that important awareness training.
Dr. Jaabi had also challenged the participants to build the required capacity in the fight against money laundering and terrorism Financing crimes.
