Business-crime division may switch ministries
Published:Monday | June 7, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Minister of National Security Dwight Nelson has disclosed that the Government is seriously contemplating whether he should take charge of the Financial Investigations Division (FID).
The FID is being banked on to play a major role in breaking the links between powerful criminal empires and volatile communities by going after their wealth.
Responding to Gleaner queries, Nelson said the Cabinet was looking into the matter, but he was not able to say when a decision would be made.
Established in December 2002, the FID is currently under the control of the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service.
The FID's primary function is to deter the use of Jamaica's economy for money laundering and other financial crimes, but its scope continues to widen.
The minister has vowed to use every means to dismantle wealthy gangs.
"We are talking about gangs that are organised, that have hierarchical structures, with international connections that engage in gun- and drug-running, from which they acquire their wealth," Nelson declared.
The passage of the Proceeds of Crime Act, in 2007, increased the responsibilities of the FID to grant "consent to perform a prohibited act" to financial institutions.
Accordingly, the FID was given increased investigative powers, among other things, to complement the operation of the Asset Recovery Agency, which is charged with the responsibility of managing and maintaining assets seized and forfeited from persons deemed to be in possession of criminal property.
'Corner youths' exempt
At a Gleaner Editors' Forum last week, Nelson sought to reassure the public that youths who merely hang out on roadsides were not included in the nearly 300 gangs that police intelligence revealed have been operating islandwide.
Peace activist Horace Levy had expressed concern that unemployed or out-of-school youths could be entrapped in the proposed anti-gang legislation.
"That (hanging out on street corner) has been a feature of our culture from time immemorial," Nelson stressed.
"I used to stand up at the street corner as a youngster in my neighbourhood, but I wasn't a criminal.
"Whether these gangs are affiliated to the ruling party or the opposition party - because our analysis has established the political affiliations of these gangs - their methods of operations, their weapons of choice and how they garner their wealth, they must be dismantled."
Nelson said it was especially critical to uproot gangs which disburse largesse, including back-to-school assistance or treats for children, in order to buy loyalty.