Today, the Government of Belize announced that former Commissioner of Income Tax, Eric Eusey, has been appointed as the new Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). His appointment became effective on January 1, 2014.

Apart from being a former Commissioner of Income Tax, Eusey is listed as a member of the Board of Directors of Belize Telemedia Ltd., as well as the Chairman of the St. John’s Credit Union Board.

Eusey assumes the post from former FIU Director, Marilyn Williams, who had given notice in September 2013 that she would not be applying for a renewal of her contract, which was due to expire on December 31, 2013, since she intended to go into private practice.

At the time that Williams vacated her office, the FIU was in the process of investigating the “Penner Passport Scandal,” but no further information was ever provided from the FIU on the status of those investigations.

There are reportedly more than 50 unfinished investigations that former Director Marilyn Williams left for her successor when she demitted office on December 31.

Today, Amandala attempted to have a word with the new Director to find out about the investigations, but we were told that he would not be offering any interviews at this time.

As stated in the GOB announcement, the FIU is responsible for investigating and prosecuting financial crimes with particular reference to crimes relating to money laundering and terrorist financing under the Financial Intelligence Unit Act.