THE specialised workshop on “The prevention and fight against Terrorism and its financing”, sponsored by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC/TPB) and the Organisation of American States (OAS)/C/CTE, in collaboration with the Government of Guyana, held at the Grand Coastal Hotel at Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara, was declared closed yesterday after four days. On hand to deliver the feature address on behalf of Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee was Permanent Secretary, Angela Johnson, who said that terrorism hides behind a veil of legitimacy, using international financing structures to move and raise money to facilitate the purchase of weapons and training to carry out terrorist acts around the world.
She noted that during the workshop, the facilitators spoke of the initiatives of the government, and its strategies and policies implemented to tackle terrorism and its financing, to which participants were privy.
Johnson declared that, locally, Guyana has been making strides to strengthen its legislation and install mechanisms to shut down the free movement of assets from entities involved in acts of terrorism and its financing.
She noted that in Guyana it is imperative to engage international partners to enhance capacity and provide those on the front lines with the requisite training to detect terrorism and it’s financing, so that action can soon follow.
Johnson pointed out that the Government of Guyana is committed to addressing the issue of terrorism locally, and as such, access has been made possible to all forms of training. Overseas experts were invited to impart the necessary information to the participants, who will in turn relay same to others in their various organisations.
Meanwhile, the Terrorism Prevention Specialist of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Hernan Longo, yesterday said Guyana has made strides to prepare and fight terrorism in terms of its legal side (legislation), and has since engaged in capacity building by way of the training programme for it citizens.
He pointed out that the experience was fruitful, and that there was an exchange of information, since the sessions were interactive over the past four days. He thanked Minister Rohee and the MoHA for collaborating with experts from Argentina, Mexico, Interpol, US Department of Justice, and Caricom representatives, who were all present to share vital information to fight terrorism and it’s financing.
Alejandro Diaz de Leon, the Organisation of America States (OAS) Program Manager, and CICTE Secretariat for Multidimensional Security, spoke of the training programme as very informative and intense, and noted the steps Guyana has taken in forming international cooperation to fight terrorism and it’s financing.
The workshop started on Tuesday last. Its intent is to build Guyana’s overall capacity to fight terrorism in all of it’s forms.
Guyana’s legislative agenda to fight terrorism has taken the following steps: In 2002, the (Criminal Law) offences Act Chapter 8:01 was amended by Act No.7 of 2002 to criminalize terrorist acts; the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act No.13 of 2009 was approved by Parliament, and is aimed at addressing issues of money laundering, including the financing of terrorism.