Dominica has seized over $362,000 from criminals since the island amended the Proceeds of Crime Act in May 2013, according to Program Manager-Caribbean Criminal Assets Recovery Program (CCARP), Eamon Kearney.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 8th annual Proceeds of Crime Practitioners Conference on Wednesday, Kearney commended Dominica for amending the act which allows full civil forfeiture powers, provisions for confiscation in the Magistrates court, and the power to seize cash from criminals.
He noted the money seized has been taken out of the “criminal economy.”
“The government of Dominica should be commended for taking these bold steps,” he stated. “Taking assets of criminals provides the unique opportunity to reinvest this money in law enforcement, the criminal justice system and social programs that help the victims of crime and those in society most affected by crime.”
According to Kearney, a clear message needs to be sent to all involved in crime and those tempted by crime that it will not pay.
He noted that the conference provides the opportunity for law enforcement officers to share the best practices, and discuss new and innovative ways of recovering assets from criminals.
“This conference is important because serious and organized crime threatens national security by fueling violence, breeding insecurity, creating instability and weakening governance. In doing so it poses a significant threat to prosperity, threatening economic growth by discouraging inward investment and creating barriers to business,” he said.
Kearney pointed out further that criminals often fight harder to protect their assets from confiscation than they do to avoid the prison sentence imposed for their crime. He stated that having in place a robust asset recovery regime sends a very clear message to those engaged in serious organized crime that they will not profit from their criminality.
In the meantime, Attorney General, Levi Peter, added that if the benefit of acquiring assets through crime is removed, there will be less incentive for individuals to commit crimes.
“The Dominica approach has been to do all that we can from a government perspective to holster the tools to fight this criminal activity by enhancing the legislation to support those engaged in law enforcement,” he said.
Peter indicated that when an asset is seized from criminals, it is deposited into the Assets Forfeiture Fund to be reinvested into the economy.
He encouraged participants of the conference to recognize the importance of the work that they do.
“The work that you do underpins the stability of our various jurisdictions and ultimately our region as a whole and it may be said that it filters in on the stability of the international financial system as a whole,” he said. “If we as individual jurisdictions do not have a substantive and robust financial system that is considered and recognized to be of integrity then the results will be that the quality of life for our various inhabitants will be greatly diminished.”
Who are the real “Big time” criminals, those who commit white collar crimes, evade Laws, block cases reaching courts? Those with assets, quickly obtained wealth, acquired that cannot be explained by their ordinary salaries?
What about the money-laundering? No transparency, nor accountability concerning sales of our ordinary and diplomatic passports?
Our passports, diplomatic passports reaching the hands of international criminals? Who handed over our passports for $$$$$$$$? For how much? Those secret deals are being revealed? No refuting those revelations because too many facts to prove.
Those involved do not have the guts to sue. They turn and twist the facts. But the TRUTH always prevail. How many Big Wigs in Public or Private Office have been investigated or caught? The Big wigs and their ilk will never be touched even though we know what is going on. They are protected, defended all the time. Case close.
Yep. Until the people get their acts together.
Hope the money is used for something to help Dominica and not go back in other criminals pockets ie politicians. Because alot of them are criminals.
You are one who could be sued for libel. Who really is interested and wants to read that? What good is this comment and what does it prove?
” over $362,000″ brilliant indeed! These freaking low-life poli-tricking fools think everyone is a dummy and can’t pick up on their dirty webs of lies, fabrication, deceit, deception and confusion, . What defines a criminal, Mr. Kearney? You obviously have been handed down the incorrect data. And by the way, who are you? joke you-a-make man!
Do not get a heart attack or brain anuerism over this. Keep your cool. This is the best way to live and put your point across, calm, composed and respectful.
They all know that little money is from people with marijuana. Coke is big money so it seems they don’t go after the big money ting, is only the marijuana they after. I wonder where is the coke money?? hmmm
In this case if they could seize so much money, there appears to be a lot of money in trafficking marijuana. The big ones could be involved. You know nothing about it and will never know.
In addition to the other areas the money will be channeled to, the police department is in need of a finger and foot-printing and lie detector systems. These could be effective in apprehending criminals and bringing them to justice. Eventually the police work/investigations could be cut by half. If you do not have these, they should be purchased as soon as possible and implemented. Consider too they could result in decreased criminal activities.
The people who have had property stolen and filed reports with the police should have first say on being compensated seeing that the police on very rare occasion ever seek or find any private stolen property and return it to the rightful owner.
Who is Kearney and why did he come to the party?
Dominica, the island where thieves prevail.
If the property is found and the owners can prove it belongs to them, then the police should return the property to the rightful owner(s). Hopefully they are in good condition.
The police should conduct a thorough investigation specifically in the area, of the village where the property was stolen. If only those who are aware of who stole the property and has it would inform the police, the property would be found and soon enough. Some people aid and abet crimes. They are as guilty as the thieves.
Some, as practicing Christians, what they ignore is, God knows who planned to commit the crime, who stole the property and who has them. In time, they will receive their just recompense from him for His Seventh Commandment is: “Thou Shalt Not Steal.”
Whatever is stolen must be returned in order to obtain God’s forgiveness. In addition, worship, prayer, penance and restitution to God is necessary to obtain his forgiveness.
No matter how many years criminals are imprisoned and also pay the Court, they could never fully compensate for their crimes, for the hurt, pain and suffering which they cause their victims. This is why they must make restitution to God as previously mentioned with a humble and contrite heart.
They steal from hardworking people; some who also worked hard overseas to save a few dollars and who built their homes and furnished them, hoping to settle comfortably in peace and safety.
Thieves keep a close watch on their going and coming and as soon as they turn their backs they break and enter and steal their furnishings. What is sad is that the owners may owe financial institutions for the stolen property.
If they are fortunate to have insurance coverage, in time, they will be compensated. Even then, the owners must prove that the house was broken into, by what means and if they had secured locks on the doors as dead-bolt locks. If not, especially the latter, woe to them, the insurance will not give them a cent. This is how insurance companies work. No wonder they are the richest enterprise in the entire world.
What percentage of stolen property do you think gets returned here?
Hopefully when the real big money comes it will be flowing from every corner of our Island. During this Easter season lets remember the story of Judas at the last supper, funny the lesson is “Do as I say but not as I Do”. I rest!
Do not caste words at others. Look to yourself and examine your conscience. If you are a Catholic Christian and a practicing one you should practice your faith as perfectly as you possibly could.
Blessed Pope John Paul II, soon to be canonized a saint said: “Confession is good for the west.” Dominican Catholics (wherever we reside) are not exempt.
Today, Pope Francis has emphasized the importance of confession. He is taken seriously by the Bishops and Priests. In the parish I reside in, the Archdiocese of Toronto issued two long forms on “Examination of Conscience”, one for adults and one for children. They also include The Ten Commandments. Therefore, if you are a Catholic, take note and act accordingly.
Prior to accusing anyone of impropriety which you cannot personally prove and classifying them as Judas, examine your conscience and consider, how well do you serve God and obey his Ten Commandments and the religious teaching of the Church according to Holy Scripture. Too many accuse others and are far from perfect. God knows it.
Our Lord said: “Let he who is without sin caste the first stone” and “Judge not that you may not be judged accordingly.”
Lent is a good time to commence perfection and to keep at it until the end of life. As St. Paul said, “Examine your conscience to see whether you are living in faith.”
I like that! I really like that! For true I like that! Just as the Queen contestants would say, I really, really like that! This is great, i LIKE THAT.
But what I would like more is the amount in the GON Emanuel saga, and I would like that to the max, but I really like that.
Can we amend the law to be able to seize property and accounts of corrupt officials who use any funds gained from state travels and other government related activities to build mansions and personal wealth and also add a mandatory 30 year prison sentence.
All the monies collected from criminals should go to the departments that fight crime so that they can buy better tools and equipment to fight crimes.
They don’t fight crime here. What island are you on?
I hope that they did not put the money in the oven and all got burnt or it shredded by mistake.We want to know where the money gone please tell us. The public have a right to know.
WHICH MONEY ARE U REFERING TO?: I myself would like to know whether monies were missing
All that is money from the small fishes. When we start getting real money back from things such as illegal land purchases, fertilizer bobols, mansions and apartments built with questionable monies then I will shout hurrahhhhhh! But Change will come soon.
“I AM DOMINICA, ARE U?”
Assertive, NOT Agressive!
You so right. If they looked at how certain villas were bought I’m sure they could come up with a lot more than that.
Where have all that money gone?we will never know such money should be put in a special fund to fight against the crimes from which the money was obtained.
The law says a percentage of that money must go back to law enforcement and the rest in the general fund. How much has been redirected to the fight against crime and how exactly?
Really people on $362,000. I guess that must be the profit after all department expenses and petty cash paid
Crime pays!! $362000 goes to the state via criminal activities , therefor crime pays!!!!
You can tell by the non-existent police station.
Over $362000 seized from criminals, why not give the direct figure? Corruption!!! Where de money gone? What has it done ?
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Brilliant! This money should be used on the homeless, the Education budget, anti drug initiatives and help for victims of crime including domestic violence.
so who pocketed this money
good question , the person working hard to seize these monies they still have them working under minimum wage and then they wonder where corruption comes from
Stupssss they tink we dumb those in high office more corrupt than the criminals they claiming
You guys are so dumb. They really say empty barrels mak the most noise. The money obviously belongs to the state. Skerrit didn’t take it & put it in his account if that’s what your lil mind is thinking. Before you make a comment do some research instead of making yourself look so dumb!!!