The Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs and Primary Sector, Mr. Geoffrey Wever, officially received the 2024 Annual Report of FIU Aruba from its director, Mr. Angelo Brete. The report had already been published some time ago, but last Thursday Minister Wever received a presentation on the report followed by the formal handover. According to Mr. Brete, the essence of FIU Aruba’s work is to contribute to the integrity of our economy. Integrity means having a healthy economy, as it builds trust, attracts clean investment, and supports sustainable growth.
The Financial Intelligence Unit of Aruba, FIU Aruba, presented Minister Wever with a strategic overview of its achievements in 2024, including the number of unusual transaction reports received, typologies and developments in the field of money laundering, operational developments within the unit, and its future priorities. The annual report highlights FIU Aruba’s continuous efforts to strengthen the integrity of Aruba’s financial and non-financial sectors and to expand cooperation at both national and international levels.
Minister Wever emphasized the essential role that FIU Aruba plays within the broader framework of preventing and combating financial crime in Aruba. He reaffirmed that the Government of Aruba is committed to providing continued structural support to these efforts in order to protect the economy and safeguard the country’s good international reputation.
FIU Aruba received praise for its professionalism and its regional and international engagement, which is clearly reflected in its operational resilience in a world where bad actors often possess far greater financial resources than the public sector and continuously invest in modern systems to evade regulations. Minister Wever called on all entities obligated to report unusual transactions to understand the purpose of these regulations and to commit themselves to improving the quality of the information they submit to FIU Aruba. He also expressed, on behalf of the Government of Aruba, gratitude to all institutions that form part of the anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorist-financing chain for their cooperation, which, according to the minister, is clearly moving in the right direction. It is essential for all stakeholders to understand their role and to view AML/CFT compliance not merely as an obligation but as a means for Aruba to maintain an economy of integrity.
The annual report of Aruba’s Financial Intelligence Unit demonstrates that it is fulfilling its vital role. Several other public and private entities form part of the chain that prevents and combats financial crime, and it is essential that each recognizes its own task in order to fully comply with the law: the National Ordinance for the prevention and combating of money laundering, terrorist financing, and the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Minister Wever concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to strengthening the legal framework where needed and to providing resources in accordance with the country’s financial capacity, ensuring that Aruba can continue to address challenges in this field effectively. The 2024 FIU Aruba Annual Report can be read or downloaded at: https://www.fiu-aruba.com/download/annual-report-2024/
Press release: Government of Aruba
