Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698073216387.pdf (Guyana)
THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE 14TH AUGUST, 2009 LEGAL SUPPLEMENT -A ACT No.

20 of 2009 MONEY TRANSFER AGENCIES (LICENSING) ACT 2009 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS SECTION 1.

2.

3.

4.

Short title and commencement.

Interpretation.

Application, for licence.

Grant of licence.

PRINTED BY GUYANA NATIONAL PRINTERS LIMITED.

156 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LEGAL SUPPLEMENT] — A 14TH AUGUST, 2009 2 No.

20] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2009 5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Terms of licence and renewal.


Premises where licensed agency to be carried on.

Money transfer agent.

Requirements of money transfer agents.

Terms of certificate of registration and renewal.

10.

Conditions of licence and certificate of registration.

11.

12.

13.

Suspension and revocation of licence or certificate of registration.

Right of licensee and money transfer agent to conduct money transfer.

Receipts.

14.

Keeping of accounts and other records.

15.

Returns.

16.
15.

Returns.

16.

Production and examination of books.

17.

18.

Penalties.

Power to make regulations.

19.

Non-application of Act.

-1- THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LEGAL SUPPLEMENT] — A 14TH AUGUST, 2009 157 A.D. 2009] MONEY TRANSFER AGENCIES (LICENSING) [A.D. 2009 3 AN ACT to provide for the licensing of persons carrying on the business of money transfer agencies; to make provision for the registering of money transfer agents and for connected purposes.
A.D. 2009 Enacted by the Parliament of Guyana:- Short title and commencement.

1.

 This Act may be cited as the Money Transfer Agencies (Licensing) Act 2009 and shall come into operation on a date appointed by the Minister by order.

Interpretation.

2.

 In this Act - No.
19 of 1998. under the Bank of Guyana Act 1998; (a) "Bank" means the Bank of Guyana established (b) "foreign currency" means any currency or claims to a currency other than Guyana dollars; (c) "licence" means a licence granted under this Act; (d) "licensed agency" means any agency where a licensee is authorised to carry on the business of money transfer; (e) "licensed premises" means the premises specified in a licence where the licensee carries on the licensed agency; (f) "licensee", unless the context requires otherwise, means the holder of a licence granted under this Act and which has not been suspended or revoked or the term of which has not expired; 158 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LEGAL SUPPLEMENT] — A 14TH AUGUST, 2009 4 No.
20] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2009 (g) "money transfer" means the making of any payment by a person in the scheduled territory to or for the credit of a person outside the scheduled territory, or to a person in the scheduled territory by order or on behalf of a person outside the scheduled territory;.

(h) "money transfer agent" means any person carrying on the business of money transfer on behalf of a licensee; (i) "scheduled territory" means Guyana.

Application for licence.

3.


 (1) Subject to subsection (2), a person who is desirous of operating a licensed agency shall apply to the Bank in the prescribed form for a licence for that purpose.

(2) A licensee under the Dealers in Foreign No.

19 of 1989.

Currency (Licensing) Act 1989 or any related party, holding company, subsidiary or other affiliate of such a licensee shall not be eligible for the grant of a licence under this Act.
(3) An applicant for a licence shall submit the prescribed fee along with his application.

(4) In the case of a person engaged in the business of money transfer prior to the commencement of this Act (the appointed date), that person shall within one month from the appointed date make an application to the Bank for a licence under this section, and shall cease carrying on the business of money transfer within three months from the appointed date unless the licence is granted by the Bank.
(5) In the case of a licensee under the Dealers in Foreign Currency (Licensing) Act 1989 or any related party, holding company, subsidiary or other affiliate of such a licensee who was No.

19 of 1989.
19 of 1989.

 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LEGAL SUPPLEMENT] — A 14TH AUGUST, 2009 159 A.D. 2009] MONEY TRANSFER AGENCIES (LICENSING) [A.D. 2009 5 engaged in the business of money transfer prior to the commencement of this Act (the appointed date), that person shall within three months from the 'appointed date cease carrying on the business of money transfer.

(6) For tne purposes of subsections (2) and (5), "related party" means - No.

19 of 1989.
(a) any officer, official or director of the licensee under the Dealers in Foreign Currency (Licensing) Act 1989 (hereinafter in this subsection referred to as "the 1989 Act"); (b) any person affiliated with an officer, official or director of the licensee under the 1989 Act; any officer, official or director of the (c) licensee under the 1989 Act who owns equity capital or otherwise has a beneficial interest of ten percent or more in the licensee's business; (d) any employee of the licensee under the 1989 Act; (e) any other person or class of persons specified by the Bank as related to the licensee under the 1989 Act.
Grant of licence.

4.

 (1) The Bank, after consultation with the Minister, may, having regard to - (i) (ii) the experience in financial business of the applicant; the financial resources of the applicant; 160 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LEGAL SUPPLEMENT] — A 14TH AUGUST, 2009 6 No.
20] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2009 (iii) the character and the antecedents of the applicant; (iv) the soundness and feasibility of the applicant's business plan; (v) whether the applicant has competence and experience for operating the business of money transfer; (vi) whether the applicant will operate the business of money transfer responsibly; (vii) the best interests of the financial system in the scheduled territory; and (viii) the public interest, Terms of licence and renewal.
grant or refuse to grant a licence.

(2) A licence shall be in the prescribed form and the applicant shall pay the prescribed fee for the grant of the licence.

(3) Where a licence is granted, the licensee shall display the licence at a conspicuous place at the licensed premises.

5.

 (1) A licence expires on the 31st day of December of the year in which it is granted.
(2) Where a licensee wishes to renew a licence, he shall, not later than the 15th day of January in every year, make an application in the prescribed form accompanied by the prescribed fee to the Bank to renew the licence: Provided that the Bank may, after giving the licensee a reasonable opportunity of being heard, and after consultation with the Minister, refuse the renewal of a licence where a licensee has contravened any provision of this Act or any conditions of the licence or where the Bank considers it to be in the public interest.
THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LEGAL SUPPLEMENT] — A 14TH AUGUST, 2009 161 A.D. 2009] MONEY TRANSFER AGENCIES (LICENSING) [A.D. 2009 7 Premises where licensed agency to be carried on.

6.

(1) A licence shall specify the premises where the licensed agency may be carried on and, subject to subsection (2), the licensed agency shall not be carried on in any other premises.
(2) Where a licensee is desirous of moving the licensed agency to premises other than the premises specified in the licence he shall make an application in the prescribed form and submit the prescribed fee; and where the Bank grants the application, the licence shall be amended accordingly.

Money transfer agent.

7.

A licensee may appoint a person by agreement in writing as its money transfer agent with the authority to provide money transfer services on behalf of the licensed agency.
Requirements of money transfer agents.

8.

 (1) No person shall act as a money transfer agent unless that person has first registered with the Bank.
(2) Every person who wishes to be registered as a money transfer agent shall - (a) make an application in the prescribed form and submit the prescribed fee; and (b) supply the Bank with the following - (i) the name of the applicant; (ii) the address of the premises from which the money transfer agent will operate; (iii) a copy of the written agreement between the licensee and the proposed money transfer agent; and (iv) such other information and documents that the Bank may require.
162 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LEGAL SUPPLEMENT] — A 14TH AUGUST, 2009 8 No.

20] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2009 (3) The Bank may grant a certificate of registration subject to such terms and conditions, if any, as the Bank considers necessary.
(4) The Bank shall in determining whether to register any money transfer agent, take into account - (a) whether the proposed money transfer agent is a fit and proper person to provide money transfer services; (b) whether the proposed money transfer agent has entered into a suitable written agreement to provide money transfer services on behalf of the licensed agency; (c) the professional reputation and experience of the proposed money transfer agent; (d) the best interests of the financial system in the scheduled territory; and (e) the public interest.
(5) A certificate of registration shall be in the prescribed form and the applicant shall pay the prescribed fee for the grant of the certificate of registration.

(6) Where a certificate of registration is granted, the registered person shall display the certificate of registration at a conspicuous place at the premises from which the money transfer agent will operate.

Terms of certificate of registration and renewal.

9.
9.

 (1) A certificate of registration expires on the 31st day of December of the year in which it is granted.
(2) Where a person wishes to renew a certificate of registration, he shall, not later that the 15th day of January in every year, make an application in the prescribed form accompanied by the 4 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LEGAL SUPPLEMENT] — A 14TH AUGUST, 2009 163 A.D. 2009] MONEY TRANSFER AGENCIES (LICENSING) [A.D. 2009 9 prescribed fee and a written endorsement of the licensee to the Bank to renew the certificate of registration: Provided that the Bank may, after giving the applicant a reasonable opportunity of being heard, refuse the renewal of a certificate of registration where the registered person has contravened any provision of this Act or any conditions of the certificate of registration or where the Bank considers it to be in the public interest.
Conditions of licence and certificate of registration.

10.

 (1) Every licensed agency and money transfer agent shall be subject to the provisions of this Act and the conditions as may, from time to time, be prescribed by regulations or specified in the licence or certificate of registration.
(2) The conditions of a licence or certificate of registration referred to in subsection (1) may include - (a) a condition as to the furnishing of surety by the licensee or money transfer agent; (b) the amount of surety and conditions under which the surety may be forfeited; and (c) the power of the Bank to vary the amount of surety from time to time.

(3) Every licensed agency and money transfer agent shall comply with the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the No.
13 of 2009. Financing of Terrorism Act 2009.

Suspension and revocation of licence or certificate of registration.

11.
11.

 (1) The Bank may suspend or revoke a licence or certificate of registration where the licensee or money transfer agent - (a) has ceased to carry on the business of money transfer for a period of six months; (b) has been convicted of a felony or of any offence involving fraud, dishonesty or breach of trust; 164 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LEGAL SUPPLEMENT] — A 14TH AUGUST, 2009 10 No.

20] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2009 No.

13 of 2009.
(c) is a discharged or an undischarged • bankrupt; (d) has presented misleading information to obtain the licence or certificate of registration; (e) has contravened or failed to comply with the provisions of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act 2009; or (f) has contravened or failed to comply with any provision of this Act or any of the conditions subject to which the licence or certificate of registration was granted or where the Bank considers it to be in the public interest.
The Bank shall not suspend or revoke a licence or certificate of registration unless the licensee or money transfer agent (2) has been given a reasonable opportunity to make representation.

The Bank may suspend a licence or certificate of registration pending any investigation into a complaint of any act or (3) omission that threatens or can affect the integrity, stability or soundness of the financial system.
(4) Where the Bank suspends or revokes a licence or certificate of registration, it may give directions as regards the settlement of outstanding transactions.

Any action taken by the Bank under this section, in relation to suspension or revocation of a licence or certificate of (5) registration, shall only be taken after consultation with the Minister.

Right of licensee and money transfer agent to conduct money transfer.

12.
12.

 (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act and the conditions of the licence or certificate of registration, a licensee or money transfer agent shall be entitled to carry on the business of money transfer.
-4 4 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LEGAL SUPPLEMENT] — A 14TH AUGUST, 2009 165 11 A.D. 2009] MONEY TRANSFER AGENCIES (LICENSING) [A.D. 2009 (2) Subject to regulations made under this Act, where payments to local recipients of money transferred are effected in Guyana dollars, the licensee or money transfer agent shall display, at a prominent place on the licensed premises or premises from which the money transfer agent operates, the implicit conversion rates applied and any applicable charges in Guyana dollars.
(3) Subject to regulations made under this Act, where payments to a licensee or money transfer agent for money to be transferred from the scheduled territory are effected in Guyana dollars, the licensee or money transfer agent shall display, at a prominent place on the licensed premises or premises from which the money transfer agent operates, the implicit conversion rates and any applicable charges in Guyana dollars.

No.
No.

19 of 1998. the Bank of Guyana Act 1998, where payments to a licensee or money (4) Subject to and in accordance with section 20 of transfer agent for money to be transferred from the scheduled territory are effected in foreign currency, the licensee or money transfer agent shall display, at a prominent place on the licensed premises or premises from which the money transfer agent operates, any applicable charges in Guyana dollars.

No.
No.

19 of 1998 the Bank of Guyana Act 1998, where payments to local recipients of (5) Subject to and in accordance with section 20 of money transferred are effected in foreign currency, the licensee or money transfer agent shall display, at a prominent place on the licensed premises or premises from which the money transfer agent operates, any applicable charges in Guyana dollars.
(6) A licensee or money transfer agent shall not carry on the business of lending or borrowing, or accepting deposits of, any foreign or local currency, except as implicit in the transfer arrangement and an obligation under this section shall be available for liquidation in no longer than one business day.

 166 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LEGAL SUPPLEMENT] — A 14TH AUGUST, 2009 12 No.

20] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2009 Receipts.

13.


A licensee and a money transfer agent shall give to any person sending or receiving money a receipt and keep a duplicate of the receipt.

Keeping of accounts and other records.

14.

Every licensee and money transfer agent shall maintain a proper account in which shall be recorded any particulars prescribed by the Bank by regulations, notices or guidelines for a period of five years after the termination of the business transaction so recorded.

Returns.

15.
Returns.

15.

Every licensee and money transfer agent shall deliver to the Bank, within such period as may be specified and in such form as the Bank may from time to time specify, any of the particulars prescribed by the Bank under section 14.

Production and examination of books.

16.
Any person authorised by the Bank may enter a licensed premises or premises from which a money transfer agent operates at all reasonable times and - (a) request the licensee, money transfer agent or any of the directors, managers, officers or employees to produce any accounts, books, records, documents, electronic data and any other relevant information - (i) relating to the licensed agency or the money transfer agent's business of money transfer that are found therein or that are in the possession or control of any director, manager, officer or employee; or (ii) likely to contain, in the opinion of the person, evidence of the contravention of any provision of this Act, the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of No.
13 of 2009.
THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LEGAL SUPPLEMENT] — A 14TH AUGUST, 2009 167 13 A.D. 2009] MONEY TRANSFER AGENCIES (LICENSING) [A.D. 2009 Terrorism Act 2009 or any condition of the licence or the certificate of registration granted to the licensee or money transfer agent; (b) question - (i) the licensee, the money transfer agent or any of the directors, managers, officers or employees; or (ii) any other person found on the licensed premises or the premises from which the money transfer agent operates.
Penalties.

17.

 (1) A licensee, money transfer agent or any of their directors, managers, officers or employees who - (a) fails or refuses to comply with section 16; or (b) obstructs any person authorised by the Bank from carrying out his function under section 16, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars and to imprisonment for six months.
(2) Any person who contravenes any provision of this Act, any regulation, notice, guideline, or any condition of a licence or certificate of registration, for which no penalty has been specified in any other provision of this Act commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of five hundred thousand dollars and to imprisonment for one year.

Power to make regulations.

 18.


 (1) The Bank may make regulations and issue notices or guidelines for carrying out the purposes of this Act.

 168 THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LEGAL SUPPLEMENT] — A 14TH AUGUST, 2009 14 No.
20] LAWS OF GUYANA [A.D. 2009 (2) Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of subsection (1), the regulations, notices and guidelines may in particular, provide for all or any of the following matters - (a) the form of an application for a licence and of a licence; (b) the fees payable along with the application for a licence and for the grant of a licence; (c) the form of an application for renewal of a licence and the fee payable for the renewal; (d) the form of an application for change of a licensed premises and the fee payable for the change; (e) the form of an application for registration and of a certificate of registration; (f) the fees payable along with the application for registration and for the grant of the certificate of registration; (g) the particulars that an account and other records to be kept by licensee and money transfer agent shall contain; (h) the display of exchange rates and applicable charges; (i) financial penalties for breach of regulations, notices or guidelines; (j) any other matter that is required to be or may be prescribed by or under this Act.
Non-application of Act.

No.

1 of 1995.

19.

 This Act does not apply to a licensed depository financial institution under the Financial Institutions Act 1995.

THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE [LEGAL SUPPLEMENT] — A 14 AUGUST, 2009 169 15 A.D. 2009] MONEY TRANSFER AGENCIES (LICENSING) [A.D. 2009 Passed by the National Assembly on 28th May, 2009.

(Bill No.

15/2008) Clerk of the National Assembly