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The United States Embassy revealed today that US Treasury economic crime advisor, John Murphy, is working with the Trinidad and Tobago Government, just days after US President Donald Trump’s phone call to local Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.
Murphy, according to the US Embassy, will help the Trinidad and Tobago Government to fight money laundering and terrorism financing, as part of their ongoing partnership with the two island republic to build capacity in the security sector.
“This technical assistance is based on an agreement signed between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago in August 2016,” stated the US Embassy. “The US Department of Treasury Office of Technical Assistance Economic Crimes Team, funded by the Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, provides capacity and technical assistance in anti-money laundering and counter financing of terrorism in various countries.”
Murphy, a specialist in financial crimes, has worked with the US Treasury Office since 2012 and most recently served as the Team Lead in Ghana and Jamaica.
Prior to his work overseas, Murphy was a subject matter expert and advisor for the US Department of Justice, Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section in Washington, DC and served for 21 years as a law enforcement officer with the New York City Police Department in the Organised Crime Investigation Division and the Joint Organised Crime Task Force.
The United States Government is understood to be concerned by Trinidad and Tobago’s links to the terror network, Islamic State—otherwise known as ISIS or ISIL—particularly due to the relatively close proximity of the two nations and the freedom of movement within the Caribbean that can see returning Trinbagonian terrorists set up shop within minutes of Florida.
(Copyright AFP 2017/Nicholas Kamm)
Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a White House spokeswoman, told the US media that Trump discussed terrorism and other security challenges, including foreign fighters, with Rowley on the weekend.
Juan S Gonzalez, a former deputy assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, told the New York Times that the bulk of Islamic State fighters from Latin America originated in Trinidad and Tobago.
“As the United States continues to corner ISIS and defeat them, a lot of these guys aren’t going to feel they have safe quarters,” said Gonzalez. “Is the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States, prepared for these guys to return back to their countries? This is a real vulnerability.”
According to the Times, Trinidad and Tobago, with a population of 1.3 million, have seen 130 citizens head to Syria—presumably to join ISIS—while the United States, with a population of 318.9 million, had 250 citizens make the same trip.
Murphy’s job is to help stem local support for the terror organisation. The US Embassy stated that, during the visit of their economic crime advisor, local stakeholders established a T&T Financial Crime Working Group. This body will collaborate with the United States for “effective implementation of anti-money laundering and counter financing of terrorism procedures.”
(Copyright Ibtimes.co.uk)
Former US Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, John L Estrada, said, per capita, Trinidad and Tobago has the greatest number of foreign fighters from the western hemisphere in ISIS.
“Trinidadians do very well with ISIL,” Estrada told the NY Times. “They are high up in the ranks, they are very respected and they are English-speaking. ISIL have used them for propaganda to spread their message through the Caribbean.”
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Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.
We need help with all parts of national security yes custom , police , immigration, coast Guards list go’s on
Trump looking for leaders who operate like him
So the issue of no visas to fly to the US hasn’t been a topic as yet. Yet many people seem to believe that it is true can someone clear up that issue or is it propaganda
but how Trumpty ain’t call Kamliar to chat ….that is what yuh call a real diss boi….flmabo………
Not even a tweet.
Good thing, T&T need investment too.
Trump plaza hotel coming soon to Tobago
Hahaha
lmao
I predict a US Naval base or outpost of some kind shall return to T&T very soon. We are in a strategic position and the GOP when in power needs to further the war machine. The failed nation of Venezeuela better look out too. You have oil, you have natural gas and you have a shit government, you are RIPE for the taking!
I have no idea why this is not more evident…
Well part of the reason Venezuela is as it is right now is because of US sanctions and interference. Must be for a reason right?
I think I’m more scared for Trump eyes laying on my island that for the whole Isis bacanal in Trinidad.
Lol
Well, there are serving their interests. We can only hope that the PM negotiating a deal that gives us some benefit too. But we know this business is: America First.
Negotiating?! Us America doesn’t negotiate. They take.
I just read an interesting phrase: if you cannot take them with the sword, take them with a debt.
Why the prime minister didn’t tell trump that he and his team to lazy to fight crime or control it . All politicians in tnt are jokers and thieves.
Is trump about to get rights in Chag or the north coast??
Some things remain the same.
“According to the Times, Trinidad and Tobago, with a population of 1.3 million, have seen 130 citizens head to Syria—presumably to join ISIS”
We do have quite a bit of Syrians that go to see their family..
Lol. True. It would be interesting to the weight of evidence to suggest that those 130 citizens were potential ISIS fighters.
1.3 you say add about 300 000 illegal immigrants to that
submit or die! thats basically his line
Encouraging. We need their assistance and Trump strikes me as someone who rewards those who want to make a deal, early.
Yes my friend, he will strikes, you said right. Like he stroke Afghanistan, Iraq, Libia, and the native… Remember America’ beauty.
Yes my friend, he will strikes, you said right. Like he stroke Afghanistan, Iraq, Libia, and the native… Remember America’ beauty.
As I always say, countries do not have consciences. If it benefits Trinidad and Tobago; that’s what we have to concern ourselves with. We aren’t any other nation’s stepfather and if we look to history we’ll never do a deal with any developed nation.
Watching and waiting
This could so easily not end well eh? Smh.
I see the pieces on the board. We are powerless to stop the play. America is our neighbor not our friend. We need to act like it.
Look at May courtesying in the UK because Brexit leaves them vulnerable. You can say the same about us due to oil prices. We really need strong leadership right about now yes.
Chupes… Trump’s focus should be on the white supremacist terrorists who have been killing in schools, malls, movie theaters, churches and neighborhoods in the USA. His fear mongering is a global embarrassment. T&T and Panama must be cautious… the USA plays for keeps! Ask Noriega… well, if you could have asked him!
Did they pass FATCA yet?
No. Think they have up to 23 this week.
I understand that Trump nixed FACTA or was that something else? So what’s our stance on the agreement since that development?
Errrrrr. WHAT terrorism links? ????
We do need their resources since we cannot do this alone. It seems we’re heading downhill and fighting a losing battle.
Based on Mark Basant’s report, we are definitely not equipped to battle with the underworld.
Hope they have better results than we had so far. The question then becomes, if we have the info and a solid case, hope we can successfully prosecute it.
I’d love to hear more about this T&T Financial Working Crime unit. What is the scope of it? What is the goal?
I’m presuming the US will be privy to all its findings.
And why limit assistance to financial crimes. Why not assistance with forensic, for e.g. given our detection rates?
Because that ent their business. They care about terrorism leading to dead Americans. Not if trinis want to kill each other. America first. Lol
Ihu, clear as day lol. But ‘assistance’ implies they were asked. So that suggests we did not ask for any other assistance, or are content to leave it be.
I don’t believe that this is based on any request Nerisha. I think they decided to assist us in a way that suits their purpose. Which is frankly understandable.
Lol..being proactive you mean?
If you mean America being proactive then definitely. That’s why they have well paid advisors.
What compromise did he make?
Good question. It will be interesting to find out more on the scope of the T&T Financial Crime Working Unit. And I’m guessing they will share all info with the US.
That’s already a big compromise.
No need to compromise, Leslie. We have two people they want. Bigly.
Lol. Three actually. And we don’t seem to be keen on giving up any.
Oh, yea, I forgot about him 🙂 But that was then. This is now. Why you think everybody involved either deftly silent, or looking for specifics on the phone conversation and pending one-on-one visit?
Not surprise at all.
Well the statement from the OPM did say they spoke about security and trade. Terrorism falls on both national and international security. No surprise here.
There is more in the pestle here than mortar.