Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1694869285503.pdf (Guyana)
THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF GUYANA (2015-2017) FOURTH REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS IN RELATION TO THE APPOINTMENT OF AN ACCOUNTANT TO THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT (FIU) WITHIN THE ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING & COUNTERING THE FINANCING OF TERRORISM AUTHORITY (AML/CFT) ACT NO.

1 OF 2015 COMMITTEES DIVISION PARLIAMENT OFFICE PUBLIC BUILDINGS BRICKDAM GEORGETOWN April 13, 2017 FOURTH REPORT Introduction 1.
The Standing Committee on Appointments was established under the Constitution to address matters relating to the appointment of Members of the Commissions pursuant to Article 119 (C) of the Constitution and provisions of Standing Order 84.

The Committee was given additional responsibilities for appointments to bodies by several statutes enacted by the National Assembly in 10th and 11th Parliaments.
In particular, the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML&CFT) (Amendment) Act 2015, Act No.

1 of 2015, gave the Committee the responsibility to select and recommend a person for the appointment as an Accountant to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

2.
2.

This Fourth Report of the Committee in the 11th Parliament recommends the appointment of the Accountant of the Financial Intelligence Unit in accordance with Section 5 of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML&CFT) (Amendment) Act 2015, Act No.

1 of 2015.

Members of the Committee 3.

At a meeting of the Committee of the Selection held on September 4, 2015, the following Members were nominated to the Committee on Appointments.

Members from the Government: (i) Hon.


Dr. George A. Norton, M.P.

(ii) Hon.

Amna Ally, M.P., Government Chief Whip (iii) Hon.

David A. Patterson, M.P.

(iv) Hon.

Catherine A. Hughes, M.P.

(v) Hon.

Annette N. Ferguson, M.P.

Members from the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (i) Ms. Gail Teixeira, M.P., Opposition Chief Whip (ii) Bishop Juan A. Edghill, M.S., J.P., M.P.

(iii) Dr. Clive R. Jagan, M.P.

(iv) Mr. Ganga Persaud, M.P.

1 Election of Chairperson 4.


The Committee of Selection at its first meeting held on September 4, 2015 elected Hon.

Dr. George A. Norton, M.P., Minister of Social Cohesion, as its Chairperson.

Change of Membership on the Committee 5.

Dr. Clive R. Jagan resigned as a Member of the National Assembly with effect from February 10, 2016.

Subsequently the Committee of Selection met on March 4, 2016, and nominated Ms. Bhagmattie Veerasammy, M.P.

as a Member to replace Dr. Jagan on the Committee.

Mandate 6.
Mandate 6.

The Committee was mandated by the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML&CFT) (Amendment) Act No.
1 of 2015, to appoint persons to specific positions (specifically section 6), as follows: The Principal Act is amended by the substitution for section 9 of the following section as section 6- (3A) The Financial Intelligence Unit shall include- b) An accountant appointed by the Parliamentary Committee on Appointments from a short list provided, based on applications in response to public advertisement.

Meetings of the Committee 7.

The Committee held a total of twenty (20) Meetings.
Accountant within the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) - Appointment Process 8.

At the 2nd Meeting held on Wednesday, December 23, 2015, the Committee commenced discussion on the way forward with the appointment of a person to the position of Accountant within the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

2 9.

At the 4th Meeting held on Wednesday, 9th March, 2016, the Committee, upon request was provided with the criteria, job description, and terms of reference for the position of Accountant.

10.
10.

Two Members of the Committee were assigned to review the advertisement for the position of Accountant.

The Committee approved the advertisement inviting suitably qualified persons to fill the position in the four (4) national newspapers.

The advertisement was published on March 22, 23 and 24, 2016, with a deadline for submission of applications by March 30, 2016.

The advertisement was posted also on the Parliament Office’s website.

11.
11.

At the 6th Meeting held on April 13, 2016, the Committee acknowledged the applications and spreadsheet with a summary of the twenty nine (29) candidates and their applications received.

12.

At the said meeting, a Sub-Committee comprising three (3) Members, were tasked with preparing an evaluation form for shortlisting the applicants, using the terms of reference for the position.

The Sub-Committee was given a deadline of two (2) weeks to prepare the proposed evaluation forms.

13.
13.

At the 7th Meeting held on April 27, 2016, the Committee perused and amended the proposed evaluation form submitted by the Sub-Committee.

The Committee undertook to enquire from the applicants via email, whether they deemed themselves as being a “politically exposed person” as defined in the Anti-Money Laundering & Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML&CFT) (Amendment) Act 2015 and the Financial Intelligence Task Force Regulations (FATF).

14.
14.

A Matrix of the applicants’ responses to the Committee’s request was considered at the 8th Meeting held on May 13, 2016.

The Committee, however, noted that not all applicants had responded and that further efforts would be made by the Clerk of the Committee to contact the applicants with outstanding responses.

Selection for the position of Accountant 15.

16.


At the 12th Meeting held on June 20, 2016, the Committee acknowledged responses received from applications with respect to declaration of a ‘‘Politically Exposed Person’’.

Thereafter, ten (10) applicants were shortlisted to appear before the Committee for interviews.
At the 13th Meeting held on Monday, June 27, 2016, starting at 9.30 a.m., the Committee conducted a preliminary interview of nine (9) persons, since one (1) person was absent for the interview.

Applicants were informed via email and follow- up telephone calls of the scheduled time for their interviews.

3 17.Following successful person so identified.


the interview, candidate a meeting for the position shortly of Accountant commenced and the Committee agreed on the to the and this was communicated 18.At the 14th Meeting candidate had declined the offer of appointment 2016, the Committee was informed for the Accountant position.

that the top ranked held on July13, 19.At the 17th Meeting applicants.

for the position.
for the position.

still they were interested agreed that should be carried and make a decision held on January The Clerk was instructed 25, 2017, the Committee shortlisted two (2) whether with the applicants offered.

of the salary and be informed to verify It was also in the position one (1) of two (2) applicants agree to the post, then due diligence should an interest, then the Committee would meet out.

Should both applicants indicate on the most suitable candidate.
20.At the 1 gth �eeting was made \\-ith still Mr. Surendra interested in the position.

Lall Boodhoo held on February both applicants.

Enquiry 15, 2017, the Committee was done to verify indicated One applicant that she was no longer that contact were and interested whether the applicants was informed indicated bis interest.

21.Following Committee �-Boodhoo's agreed to carry out due diligence verification on him.
of interest to fill the position of Accountant, the Due Diligence for the position of Accountant 22.Subsequent to the Committee's was agreed that the Commissioner place of employment current decision, of Police at the 1gth Meeting, would conduct held on February due diligence, relevant to requesting any would be written information.

15, 2017, it bis additionally 23.At the 19th Meeting of the due diligence held on March 22, 2017, Members reviewed process.
and accepted the results 24.The Committee Surendra Unit (FIU).

hereby submits Lall Boodhoo for the position for the consideration of Accountant of the National within Mr. the Financial Assembly, Intelligence 25.The Committee examined and adopted the Report and Motion.

26.The Report is hereby accordingly submitted.

1 Hon.

Dr. George1 orton, Minister M.P., Cohesion, of Social Chairp erson, Committee on Appointments April 5, 2017 4 1