Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke says the authorities will move quickly to ensure that attorneys fulfil their obligations under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) as part of the designated non-financial businesses and professions framework.

This is to prevent the abuse of the financial system by criminals seeking to launder illicit proceeds.

The move follows the privy council ruling handed down today.

According to Dr Clarke the ruling represents the firm commitment and resolve of the government to bring its anti-money laundering/combating of terrorism financing regime, into compliance with international standards.

The finance minister says the decision is a game changer in Jamaica’s efforts to ensure that the financial system is not abused to launder the proceeds of criminal activity.

He adds that this decision enables the general legal council to resume its role of monitoring compliance by attorneys and with support from Jamaica’s AML prime contact secretariat at the Bank of Jamaica to re-sensitize attorneys to the suspicious transaction reporting regime.