THE recent visit by American Ambassador Michael Gonzales to the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) and the revelations that the institution survives on a shoestring budget leaves a very concerning state of affairs. During his meeting with FIC Director General Clement Kapalu, Ambassador Gonzales was astonished to learn that the FIC had tracked down roughly $3 billion in illicit financial flows just this year alone, yet the entity battles with erratic funding, skeletal staffing, and an overall budget that is dwarfed by its counterparts across the region. Ambassador Gonzales rightly emphasized the crucial role that the FIC plays in curbing illicit financial flows and aiding the government in revenue collection. The FIC’s ability to identify significant sums in hidden wealth despite...