…says nothing to justify claims of interference

BRITISH High Commissioner to Guyana Gregg Quinn and Irish Financial Investigations Expert to the Special organised Crime Unit (SOCU) Sam Sittlington are unfazed by statements from the opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) which suggest that Sittlington’s role is politically staged.

Speaking at a press briefing Tuesday at the residence of the British High Commissioner, Sittlington said criticisms made by the opposition about his role at SOCU is tantamount to throwing water on duck’s back. He made it clear that he is only here to assist SOCU and advise the entity. “I have a track record, it speaks for itself,” he said emphatically. Similarly, the British High Commissioner said it is up to politicians to criticise Sittlington’s roles, but noted that the adviser’s Terms of Reference (TORs) are very clear.

“There is nothing there that will justify claims of his interference or directions…ultimately will not be taken by him, but by the rule of law, by the process of law here.” “The people would have to decide for themselves…what they think Sam is doing and why. All we can say he [Sittlington] is here to provide advice, guidance and mentoring to a fundamental part of Guyana’s ability to meet anti-money laundering and the countering of financing of terrorism activity and everything he is doing is based on addressing that concern,” said the UK Envoy.

The British High Commissioner said too that all of Guyana should be interested in Sittlington’s work and the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism, “Because If Guyana is not seen to be addressing AML/CFT that has potential, significant broader impact to Guyana’s standing globally not just in the financial market, but how other countries around the world see Guyana.”

Meanwhile, Sittlington, who noted his 30 years of experience in the field, said he has no decision-making powers and the decision to prosecute lies in the hands of the Police Legal Adviser (PLA) and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). He made it clear that his role is advisory. “I do that from an appropriate distance,” said the expert, who noted that he has to monitor the work of SOCU agents to ensure they are functioning as they should.

“I do have to go with them and sometimes I may have to observe them on the ground when they are involved in searches and interviews to see how they are asking questions, dealing with the public and that their search procedures are proper, that they are collecting evidence properly and that there is continuity of the evidence being seized from the property, to when it goes to court.”

He said should those areas continue to be lacking cases can fall through. “I do not make decisions on behalf of SOCU that is purely their remit. I advise based on my knowledge and experience, I have been doing this a long time — involved in money-laundering investigations, fraud investigations and I have been doing it at a lot of different countries from [the] Far East, to the U.S., to Eastern Europe as well.”

Sittlington maintained that he is qualified to do his job and will do so despite the naysayers. “I am here to advise based on experience. I only advise or give guidance on what I would do if I was in the UK,” he assured. The financial investigation expert made it clear that he has to have a close working relationship with the people at SOCU. He noted too that the law must be followed in all instances and that is what determines who is in breach and should be taken before the courts. “…that is beyond me, I am in a very low position here,” he stated while noting that he relies on the confidence of the public “to see through any undermining of me.”

The opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) had said repeatedly that SOCU is being used by the administration to witch-hunt, a statement that has been vehemently denied by the coalition government. In fact, the opposition’s statements followed the arrest of several senior officials of the former administration by SOCU for questioning in the Pradoville 2 scam.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo; former Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon; Robert Persaud and Lisaveta Ramotar, daughter of the former President Donald Ramotar, were among those arrested. The decision to arrest the PPP officials stemmed from them refusing to attend interviews at the SOCU, Camp Street headquarters.