At
least 100 youths from different organisations and tertiary institutions were
yesterday sensitised on the negative effects of money laundering and terrorist
financing (ML/TF), and their responsibilities and obligations in fighting the
menace.
The
daylong seminar, dubbed Open House Forum for Youth, was the maiden edition
organised by the Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in
West Africa (GIABA) in The Gambia.
Held
at a local hotel in Kololi, the forum was designed to foster and strengthen
partnership between GIABA and the youth in the fight against transnational
organised crimes, particularly ML/TF.
The
director general of GIABA, Adama Coulibaly, said the 2016 Open House Forum in
The Gambia is the 8th of such a forum organised by GIABA in the sub-region.
He
said the forum was initiated to sensitise youths on the negative effects of
ML/TF, as part of efforts at ensuring the involvement of all stakeholders in
fighting the twin crimes in West Africa.
In
a statement read on his behalf by GIABA Director of Programmes and Projects Dr
Bruno Nduka, Mr Coulibaly said the promotion of strategic partnerships with
civil society, including the youths and media organisations, remains a priority
for GIABA within its regional strategic framework.
The
GIABA DG said there is a need to engage youth in the fight against crime and
other unwholesome behaviours, as “they are highly susceptible and vulnerable to
these crimes”.
Justice
Minister Mama Fatima Singhateh said most of the criminal acts of money
laundering such as drug trafficking, prostitution, kidnapping, advance fee
fraud (419) and migrant smuggling are mainly perpetrated by those in their
youthful ages.
“As
such, for the issue of money laundering and terrorism and terrorism financing
to be better tackled, there is the need for proper awareness among youth.
“It
is important to improve on the capacities of youth in GIABA member states on
anti-money laundering and counter financing of terrorism to better position
them in championing the fight against ML and TF,” she added.
The
minister said the Open House could not have come at a better time, as Gambian
youths are “increasingly becoming vulnerable” to the commission of
transnational crimes of money laundering.
She
said the youth are also of particular concern because of their relation with
the latest information technology, especially the internet and their
indiscriminate quest for success and wealth.
The
society too has become less critical of the means of wealth creation and
acquisition, she noted.
“These
and other attitudes of our society could place youths at great risk of being
corrupted by unscrupulous persons, gangs and criminal organisations,” Justice
Minister Singhateh said.
“I
therefore urge the youth to be suspicious of the get-rich-quick schemes, be
wary of jobs with quick money and report any such attempts to law enforcement
agencies in order to make our country and world at large a safe place to live.”
The
minister of youth and sports, Alieu K. Jammeh, represented by the permanent
secretary at the Ministry of Finance, Lamin Camara, said the youths are a
critical segment of the population that a country cannot afford to neglect, in
the fight against ML and TF.
Yahya
Camara, director general of the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank
of The Gambia, and GIABA national correspondent, said the Open House Forum will
go a long way in sensitising Gambian youth about ML/TF and other related
economic and financial crimes, and their negative consequences on society.
