By Dana Malcolm  

Staff Writer  

#TurksandCaicos, March 15, 2023 – “I think we are going to be best in class, I think we are going to be the case study for how you go from being on the blacklist to putting in the proper systems to meet the requirements,” says E Jay Saunders, Finance Minister and Deputy Premier, in an expression of total faith in the upswing of the country’s financial sector. This is thanks to Government funding and expertise from Kroll, a company he describes as a world leader in financial compliance consultation.  

“We hired the absolute best, the former head of the Financial Action Task Force. This is no exaggeration or bravado; we have the best advising us on getting off of the blacklist – I’m not saying the biggest but certainly headed up by one of the best.” 

He told Magnetic Media in an interview over the phone that the Government had spared no expense to get Kroll, which had been on the ground in February. The country is currently fighting to get out of an EU blacklisting caused by poor computer systems, he says. 

While the Deputy Premier admits that the TCI stumbled in that regard, Saunders says the country was never non-compliant or unresponsive. The Minister explained that, coupled with the EU’s disproportionate language surrounding the blacklisting, to fit EU standards small countries with small economies had to spend an extraordinary amount of money and that was not always viable.

“Sometimes your industry just can’t afford it,” he maintained. “The only reason we got lucky is because we have a lot of cash.” 

He says connecting with Kroll via LinkedIn and getting them into the Turks and Caicos was a serious feat on the part of the Government.  

“They didn’t have to take it because this is a small jurisdiction for them. Just by luck, by the Grace of God, the company headed by one of the top people in the world dealing with the OECD accepted our proposal.” 

Saunders said several of the TCI’s financial services stakeholders had met with Kroll during their February visit and were deeply impressed with where the country seems to be heading with the help of the consultants, and the Government says it’s already putting $2 million into needed computer systems as part of this upgrade.   

“There is no question about it. I’m confident that by February 2024, we will be off the list– I’m completely confident and there are no lasting repercussions.”   

While October 2023 would be good, he said he didn’t want the company to rush for that deadline and skimp on proper upgrades. 

“We told them don’t aim for the minimum requirements, put in something that puts us best in class, we are already on it, don’t try to meet a deadline. I know people get concerned about that type of position, but I don’t want to be on, get off and then realize- we’re back on it,” he explained.  

The finance minister, who is also charged with transitioning all of the Government to electronic systems, said that the EU’s requirements were moving targets, upgraded and fine-tuned every year and with Kroll’s members having intimate knowledge of that they would equip the country with a system that would hold up to the rapidly shifting goal posts. 

“With that we can be best in class and start growing our financial services sector. I don’t want us to be constantly trying to catch up. We want them to put us in a position where we are the Switzerland of the Caribbean.” 

He was absolutely sure this would come to fruition. 

Currently, the Turks and Caicos Financial Service sector, its #2 industry is earning ?? annually; Saunders wants to grow that to ??? by????. He did not say. On the Government side, the regulatory body the Financial Services Commission is managed by both elected Government Administration and the UK Governor. 

“I think people are going to be surprised at how far we’ve come– I can guarantee we will be off the blacklist in twelve months, and I will not be surprised if the OECD writes a recommendation saying the Turks and Caicos did it right.”  

The desire to go along with the EU’s “arbitrary” regulations is fuelled by the knowledge that the TCI desperately needs to diversify its economy.  Financial services could be a new frontier, believed the DP.  

As for whether this blacklisting will affect those ambitions, only time will tell.