$10.2 Million Allocated to CCARP

The Ministry of Finance and Planning will carry on with the implementation of the Caribbean Criminal Asset Recovery Programme (CCARP), for which a sum of $10.2 million has been allocated in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives.

The programme, which commenced in January 2013, is designed to support the strengthening of the Financial Investigations Division (FID) by providing technical assistance to build their criminal assets recovery capabilities in tackling serious crimes.

It also aims to develop the capability of judiciaries in the preparation, presentation, and hearing of financial crimes.

Achievements up to December 2015 include: amendments to the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA), including restriction on cash transactions and disposal of restrained assets; amendments to the FID Act; amendments to the Terrorism Prevention Act, which now sees the FID as the sole designated body for suspicious transactions; signing of Memoranda of Understanding with the Jamaica Customs Agency, Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ), Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF); advanced development of a case management system for the FID; establishment of a new conference/training facility at the FID; and renovation of new offices identified for the FID.

Anticipated targets for this fiscal year include: renewal of the licence for information technology (IT) system used for intelligence analysis and case management; continued efforts to support deterrence of financial crimes; increased asset forfeitures and seizures; piloting of legislative changes, including rules of Court; and increased cooperation with partner agencies.

The programme, which is funded by the United Kingdom (UK) Department for International Development (DFID), is scheduled to end in November 2017.