Minister of National Security Dr. Peter Phillips (left) with Gilbert Scott, Permanent Secretary at a press conference yesterday. - JUNIOR DOWIE /STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
JAMAICA HAS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Kingdom (UK) Home Office to permit the sharing of forfeited assets between local authorities and Great Britain.
As one of the agreements brokered by Dr. Peter Philips, Minister of National Security, on his recent nine-day visit to the UK and France, this will allow assets forfeited on the basis of joint operations in Jamaica or Britain to be shared on an equitable basis between the two nations.
"All of the proceeds that are so forfeited will be returned to the fight against crime and will be given to the law enforcement authorities, the courts or the police force," Dr. Phillips said in discussing the outcome of his visit during a press briefing at his New Kingston offices yesterday.
NO ESTIMATE
The National Security Minister declined to give an estimate of just how much money the country is likely to gain from the agreement, but pointed to past seizures made in the UK that amounted to millions of pounds. He noted, in particular, the case of Owen 'Father Fowl' Clarke, an alleged Jamaican druglord and founder of the British Link Up Crew, whose assets were seized in the UK.
"There was great collaboration on the Jamaican side in that case, but because there was no such agreement, we don't have a right to share in those proceeds," Dr. Phillips said. "So if the past is anything to go by, then in the future we can look forward to millions of pounds being made available to Jamaican authorities."
The seizure of assets gained through criminal enterprise makes up the primary goal of the Proceeds of Crime legislation now before Jamaica's Parliament.
