Aruba Participates in the Council of Ministers Meeting of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) in Panama
ORANJESTAD – Last week, the Council of Ministers Meeting of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) took place in Panama City.
Aruba was represented by the Minister of Finance, Economy, and Primary Sector, Mr. Geoffrey Wever, who led the Aruban delegation and held productive discussions with several fellow ministers from across the region.
During the meeting, Minister Wever met with the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the Cayman Islands, Mr. André Ebanks, to exchange ideas and discuss the Cayman Islands’ strategy for expanding and strengthening their financial sector. The conversation reflected the shared commitment of both nations to advancing sound financial practices and fostering sustainable economic development in the region.
Also present at the meeting was the Minister of Justice of St. Maarten, Ms. Nathalie Tackling. In the Caribbean region, the responsibility for the prevention and combating of money laundering and the financing of terrorism generally falls under either the Ministry of Finance or the Ministry of Justice. In Aruba, this mandate rests with the Minister of Finance, while in St. Maarten and also in the Netherlands it is overseen by the Minister of Justice.
Minister Tackling shared insights into St. Maarten’s recent mutual evaluation, completed earlier this year. Minister Wever expressed Aruba’s willingness to share its successful approach and strategy implemented in 2021, through which Aruba achieved positive evaluation results.
Minister Wever emphasized that active participation in regional forums such as the CFATF Council of Ministers Meeting is vital to strengthening cooperation, promoting transparency, and ensuring continued progress in the collective fight against financial crime.