“Tough Time Do Not Last But Tough People Do” –New FIU Boss Urges Liberians to be strong

The new Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) FIU Boss Mr. Edwin Harris has urged all Liberians to remain strong, focus, and determine; realizing that tough time don’t last but tough people do.
He admitted that It is an undeniable fact that Liberia is faced with tough economic challenges that are now becoming a threat to the peace and stability of the nation, but it also a certain fact that economic stability will present itself when Liberians put ourselves to work to achieve the dreams and visions that are the foundation of the nation.
“This is not a dream far-fetched, but one we can acquire when we muster the strength to build upon what we have and work it to achieve. When we resolve to do this, then our hopes and aspirations come alive with tangible results,” Mr. Harris noted.
The newly inducted director General of FIU also emphasized that now is the time the entity shift from building its own capacity internally to going after the proceed of crimes derived from predicate offenses so that non-compliant institutions will be brought to book in keeping with the laws and authority of the FIU.
“It is the time that the FIU activate its sanctions and other administrative policies in preventing the dual crimes of money laundering and terrorist financing,” he added.
Harris again acknowledge the genuine concern in many quarters both locally and internationally, as to why has there not been any conviction on money laundering and terrorist financing in Liberia.
He clarified that it is probably due to the fact that the institution mandates only allow the FIU to exercise its power as deterrence against would-be wrong doers but not to prosecute or secure a conviction according to section 67 of the 2013 FIU Act and the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing law of 2013.
“It is time that all stakeholders work together collaboratively in preserving the integrity of our financial system by disallowing criminals contaminating the system through laundering their money derived from crimes and using our system to support terroristic tendencies,” he stated further.
“We also call on the partners of Liberia to support the FIU’s work since the crimes of Money Laundering and terrorist financing is borderless and the weakness of one jurisdiction can adversely impact the world at large,” the FIU Boss concluded.