James takes lead as new Director of FIU

A new director has been named to lead the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

Carla James, who, until recently, served as magistrate at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court, took up her new position effective February 1, 2016, taking over from Grenville Williams, who resigned to take up a regional post.

James, who served as magistrate for the past year and 10 months,{{more}} stated that she enjoyed serving the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines and is confident that she made sound, reasoned and fair decisions, whilst performing the functions and duties of the office without fear or favour, to the best of her ability.

James accredits her success during her tenure as magistrate to the faith and trust which she places in God and for His guidance daily. She is grateful to family and loved ones for their unwavering support and confidence. James is grateful for the assistance, advice and guidance of justice Kathy Ann Waterman-Latchoo, former chief magistrates Simone Churaman and Sonya Young, current chief magistrate Rechanne Browne, president of the Family Court Colleen McDonald, magistrates Ricky Burnett and Zoila Ellis-Browne, senior counsel Paula David and Ronald Jack, and counsel Duane Daniel. She extends thanks to the staff at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court and Serious Offences Court for their daily assistance and in particular, court clerks Annetta Rodriguez and Noel Cumberbatch. Gratitude is also extended to Ms Abraham, Ms Ryan, Ms Ollivierre, Ms Telesford, Mr Shallow, Mr Cato and Mr Soleyn for their willing support.

Ably assisting her also were retired assistant superintendent of police Glenford Gregg, station sergeant Elgin Richards and station sergeant Junior Nero, who gave sterling service to the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court as police prosecutors, Criminal and Traffic respectively. Her deepest gratitude was also extended to senior prosecutor assigned to the Serious Offences Court, Adolphus Delpesche, who unselfishly shared his knowledge and experience, which are vast and widespread.

James further extended her deepest thanks to all officers attached to the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court namely, police constables Samuel, Pierre, Richards and Murphy and commended them for the professional manner in which they conducted themselves in ensuring the daily business of the Court was conducted in an efficient and effective manner and in ensuring both her personal safety and security and the safety and security of the Court.

James returns to the FIU, having served as legal officer for 11 years prior to assuming the post of magistrate. In her new post, she hopes to continue the exemplary work of her predecessors, Sharda Bollers and Grenville Williams, in maintaining the presence of the FIU at the forefront of efforts of compliance, regulation, supervision and management of the anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) regime. Combatting money laundering, terrorist financing and removing the profit from all serious acquisitive crimes are issues on which James is extremely passionate and quite familiar.

James, as director, will lead the regionally acclaimed centre of excellence, and along with her hard-working and dedicated staff, will continue to work assiduously towards maintaining the unit’s mandate of taking the profit out of crime.