The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) was first established in 2004 under the Money Laundering Prevention Act of 2000, which was since repealed and replaced by the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act No. 13 of 2009.
The core functions of the FIU are outlined under section 9(1) of the AML/CFT Act. These include requesting, receiving, analyzing, and disseminating information on suspicious transaction reports and other information relating to money laundering, terrorist financing, or the proceeds of crime.
The FIU operates as an administrative type of FIU and independently carries out its functions as outlined under the AML/CFT Act. The unit’s functions are aimed at supporting the work of law enforcement agencies and other competent authorities in Guyana’s fight against money laundering, terrorist financing, and proceeds of crime.
The Financial Intelligence Unit is established by the Minister for Finance as an agency responsible for requesting, receiving, analyzing, and disseminating suspicious transaction reports and other information relating to money laundering, terrorist financing, or proceeds of crime.
Mr. Matthew Langevine has been the Director of FIU Guyana since September 2016.
Prior to his appointment, he was employed with the Bank of Nova Scotia in Guyana for twenty-three (23) years, serving in various senior management positions, including Branch Manager and Corporate and Commercial Client Relationship Manager.
Mr. Langevine holds a Bachelor of Social Science Degree (Management) from the University of Guyana, and a Post Graduate Certificate in Business Administration from Harriot Watt University, U.K. He is also certified as an Associate of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS).
At Scotiabank, Mr. Langevine was involved in implementing and managing the Bank’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLCFT) policies, procedures, systems of controls, and strategies applicable to reporting entities, particularly in the Financial Sector.
He is a trained assessor for the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) and Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Fourth Round Mutual Evaluation process. He served as the Chairman of the CFATF Heads of FIU Forum from November 2017 – November 2018.
Mr. Langevine has been a participant and facilitator at numerous International Conferences and Workshops relating to Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation.
As Director, Mr. Langevine manages the day-to-day operations of the FIU, which has the mandate to assist in protecting the integrity of Guyana’s financial system through the detection, prevention, and deterrence of money laundering and the financing of terrorism and proliferation in Guyana. He also represents the FIU on the country’s AMLCFT/ PF National Coordinating Committee.
December 2022.
The Committee of Management has overall charge of the direction of the operations of the FIU.
Here are the key members of our team (from left): Matthew Langevine (Director), Alicia Williams (Head of Compliance), Yonette Romao (Attorney-at-Law), and Surendra Boodhoo (Accountant).
NATIONAL COLLABORATION: MOUs signed by the FIU and national competent authorities
| No. | Competent Authority |
Date signed |
| 1. |
Guyana Police Force (GPF) – Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) |
9-Oct 14 |
| 2. |
Guyana Geology & Mines Commission |
5-Jul-19 |
| 3. |
Bank of Guyana |
22-Jul-19 |
| 4. |
Gaming Authority |
22-Jul-19 |
| 5. |
Guyana Gold Board |
22-Jul-19 |
| 6. |
Registrar of Friendly Society |
22-Jul-19 |
| 7. |
Chief Co-operative Development Officer |
22-Jul-19 |
| 8. |
Guyana Securities Council |
22-Jul-19 |
| 9. |
Land Registry |
22-Jul-19 |
| 10. |
Guyana Revenue Authority |
26-Jul-19 |
| 11. |
Deeds Registry |
5-Nov-19 |
| 12. |
Commercial Registry |
20-Nov-19 |
| 13. |
Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit |
22-Jan-20 |
| 14. |
Guyana Wildlife Conservation & Management Commission |
12-May-22 |
| 15. |
Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions |
09-February-20 |
| 16. |
Law Enforcement Agencies |
30-August-23 |
| 17. |
Supervisory Authorities and Competent Authorities |
30-August-23 |
INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION:
MOUs signed by FIU-Guyana and regional and international FIUs concerning cooperation in the exchange of information related to beneficial ownership or other information for purposes connected with ML/TF/PF or proceeds or crime.
| NO. | COUNTRY | ORGANISATION | DATE SIGNED | |
| 1. |
Trinidad and Tobago |
Financial Intelligence Unit |
May 28, 2013 | |
| 2. |
Belize |
Financial Intelligence Unit |
May 28, 2013 | |
| 3. |
Sint Maarten |
Financial Intelligence Unit |
Nov. 19, 2013 | |
| 4. |
Suriname |
Financial Intelligence Unit |
Nov. 19, 2013 | |
| 5. |
Curacao |
Financial Intelligence Unit |
May 28, 2014 | |
| 6. |
Grenada |
Financial Intelligence Unit |
May 26, 2015 | |
| 7. |
Antigua and Barbuda |
Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy |
May 26, 2015 | |
| 8. |
Dominica |
Financial Intelligence Unit |
May 26, 2015 | |
| 9. |
Jamaica |
Financial Intelligence Unit |
May 19, 2018 | |
| 10. |
Barbados |
Financial Intelligence Unit |
Nov. 20, 2018 | |
| 11. |
Aruba |
Financial Intelligence Unit |
Nov. 25, 2019 | |
| 12. |
St. Kitts & Nevis |
Financial Intelligence Unit |
Nov. 28, 2019 | |
| 13. |
Peru |
Financial Intelligence Unit |
Feb. 3, 2021 | |
| 14. |
Saint Vincent and The Grenadines |
Financial Intelligence Unit |
Nov. 29, 2022 | |
| 15. |
Bermuda |
Financial Intelligence Agency |
Nov. 29, 2022 | |
| 16. |
Turks and Caicos Islands |
Finance Intelligence Agency |
Nov. 29, 2022 | |
| 17. |
The Bahamas |
Financial Intelligence Unit |
Nov. 29, 2022 | |
| 18. |
Republic of Haiti |
Central Financial Intelligence Unit |
Nov. 29, 2022 | |
| 19. |
British Virgin Islands |
Financial Intelligence Agency |
Dec. 1, 2022 | |
| 20. |
Panama |
|
Apr. 17, 2023 | |
| 21. |
Montserrat |
Financial Crime and Analysis Unit |
May. 31, 2023 | |
| 22. |
Trinidad & Tobago |
AOG & Minister of Legal Affairs |
Nov. 28, 2023 |
*MOUs concerning the exchange of information related to individuals and entities being considered for the application of targeted financial sanctions in accordance with FATF Recommendations 6 and 7.