SOCU should not be burdened by “police work”- Basil Williams

The Government, according to Attorney General Basil Williams, has to ensure that the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) carries out its mandate in accordance with the Anti-Money Laundering legislation and is not burdened by unnecessary “police work” lest the administration be accused of stymieing the role of the agency.

Williams noted that the core functions of the specialized unit need to be discussed at the cabinet level, since according to him SOCU is currently embedded under the Guyana Police Force and this needs to change since the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) regime specifies that these bodies be independent.

This, he said is important since Guyana is entering the fourth round of assessment by the FATF.

Meanwhile, regarding the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA), the Attorney General made it clear that the legislation would be part of the Laws of Guyana and is part of the anti-corruption drive of the Coalition administration.

Dr. Clive Thomas is the current Director of the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU) and when the States Assets Recovery Bill is passed will become the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA).

When this happens it will empower the director with the legal authority to access information