GHS students receive FIU poster competition prizes

Three students of the Girls’ High School went home happy this week, after receiving the prizes that they won for being a part of the Financial Intelligence Unit poster competition.{{more}}

Of the persons who competed in the FIU poster competition, Landar Wallace, Renique Hadaway and Abigail Scott emerged first, second and third, respectively.

The poster competition, which was held under the theme “Crime does not pay,” was expected to help persons to grasp issues that are set out in the Proceeds of Crime and Money Laundering Act, as well as showcase the skills of youth in this country.

During the presentation ceremony, chief executive officer of FIU Grenville Williams noted that the competition was designed to get young people to understand that there are alternatives to being involved in crime.

He also revealed that the prizes that were presented to the winners were purchased using funds from the proceeds of crime.

“In other words, we are taking the proceeds of crime and using it for the social good of society,” Williams said.

He added that where persons are tempted to engage in criminal conduct, they should be aware “where a court that is lawfully constituted finds them guilty of criminal conduct, finds them guilty of money laundering and finds that they have derived a benefit from such criminal conduct or money laundering, that property, that money, that benefit will be taken away from them.”

According to the CEO, these monies, which are put into an account called “The Confiscated Asset Fund,” can be utilized for purposes related to law enforcement, as well as for social development.

“We must realize and recognize that our young people are our present and most certainly the future, and our country can only progress well if there is a strong sense of law and order. There must be great respect for our humanity. It is vital that we instill in our young people that there are opportunities for positive engagement, there are opportunities to utilize their energies in contributing to the fight against criminal activity,” he said.

FIU partnered with the Caribbean Criminal Assets Recovery Programme (CCARP) to host the competition.

CCARP programme manager Eamon Kearney commended the students on their presentations and stressed the importance of getting the message across that “crime does not pay.”

“It is important that this message gets out to those who may be tempted in a life of crime in the expectations that they will acquire and retain the trappings of their criminal lifestyle that when they are caught and convicted, in addition to going to prison, they will have all their assets taken away from them,” he said.

Like Williams, Kearney indicated the ways in which these monies can be used.

“Taking assets and money away from criminals provides the opportunity for this money to be reinvested back into the society by funding the criminal justice system. It also helps to provide help and support to those affected by crime, providing facilities for young people to keep them off the streets, getting into mischief which ultimately leads them into a life of crime,” Kearney said.

The posters are expected to be displayed in a number of institutions in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Wallace, who submitted the winning poster, received a laptop computer and EC$1,000. Her poster illustrates three scenarios that focus on the end result of money laundering. In the first scenario, there is someone holding a money bag with a red dollar sign, which signifies ‘dirty money’. In the second scenario, the individual has emptied the money into a tub of water with detergent in an effort to make it clean. However, while doing so, they are caught by police. In the third scenario, the individual is seen behind the bars of a prison cell.

Hadaway walked away with the second place prize of a Samsung Galaxy tablet and EC$500, while Scott, who placed third, was rewarded with a Kindle Fire and EC$250.

St Joseph Convent Kingstown student Imena Thomas was given a consolation prize for her efforts in the competition. (BK)