Law enacted against financing terrorism

February 11, 2010 4:08 AM

ORANJESTAD — The Law on financing terrorist organizations was unanimously adopted this morning during the public meeting of the Aruban parliament. The law is in conformity with the standards of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

The plenary meeting of the FATF will take place on Friday in Abu Dhabi, where Aruba wants to present an action plan, outlining how they will fulfill all main criteria of this international supervisory organ on short term. Aruba is currently failing on thirteen of the sixteen main criteria.
Members of the FATF-committee had attended this morning’s public meeting, amongst whom High Commissioner of Aruba Financial Center Ellen Kuster, officer of Justice Dop Kruimel and executives of the Finances Directorate, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Central Bank. The Ministers Arthur Dowers (AVP) of Justice and Education, and Mike de Meza of Finances, Utilities, Communication and Energy had also been present.
After two adjournments, AVP party-member Yrausquin and MEP party-member (and former FATF committee-member) Xiomara Maduro had been the first to take the floor. Yrausquin said he was happy that the meeting continued and indicated the importance of the parliament going over the points properly. Yrausquin had been furious last week about the fact that the public meeting was to be deferred from last Friday to today.
Maduro asked Minister Dowers whether the enacted Law on financing of terrorism complies with the FATF-standards. The Minister answered affirmative. Maduro also asked what the Minister would do to attract lawyers.

Amongst others, the Central Bank has a considerable shortage of legal experts. The Minister responded by saying that the freeze on the recruitment of personnel would be removed there and that State-Secretary of Kingdom Relations, Ank Bijleveld-Schouten (CDA), has promised to send legal experts to Aruba. “This does not necessary mean that the lawyers would have to be on the island physically. With the current possibilities on technological field, one could also work from abroad” according to Minister Dowers. Furthermore, he wants to recruit Aruban law students, both locally and from abroad.
After the adoption of the Law on terrorism financing, the meeting continued with the discussion on how the government thinks it will comply with the FATF-standards within the not too distant future.

(Source: National Newspaper Amigoe)

10 February 2010