STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSHOP WITH SOLOMON ISLANDS, FEBRUARY 2020
UFA secretariat delivered a strategic planning workshop with the Solomon Islands on 4-6 February 2020, to assist authorities to respond to the findings of the Solomon Islands Mutual Evaluation Report, which was adopted in August 2019.
The Mutual Evaluation Report identified a range of priority and recommended actions to address deficiencies in Solomon Islands’ AML/CFT regime, and the workshop aimed to support the development of a roadmap to implement those actions, consistent with the ML/TF risks and national priorities of Solomon Islands.
The workshop brought together representatives from the FIU, Central Bank, Police, Customs, Public Prosecutors Office, Attorney General’s Office, and Inland Revenue Division, as well as the Solomon Islands Bar Association and the Institute of Solomon Islands Accountants.
The workshop was opened by Attorney General John Muria Jnr, who is also the Chair of the Anti-Money Laundering Commission. In his remarks, the Attorney General acknowledged the challenges of having limited resources in a small jurisdiction, but also emphasised that the Government of Solomon Islands stands ready to work hard on making the necessary improvements to its national AML/CFT regime.
UFA supported the involvement of two key members of its Donors and Providers Group at the workshop – AUSTRAC and the Anti-Money Laundering Assistance Team (AMLAT) from the Australian Department of Home Affairs – in anticipation that they may be able to provide follow-up technical assistance to Solomon Islands to progress certain aspects of its implementation plan.
The UFA secretariat thanks the Solomon Islands for hosting the workshop, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for providing funding support via UFA’s Pacific AML/CFT Capacity Development Programme, and the contributions from all experts and participants.
