President Christine Kangaloo has proclaimed legislation aimed at bolstering the nation’s drive to ensure compliance with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards, and strengthen anti-money laundering, anti-terrorism and financial oversight frameworks.The proclamation was made under Legal Notice No. 596 of 2026, on July 31, in which section 10(d) of the Miscellaneous Provisions [Proceeds of Crime, Anti-Terrorism, Financial Intelligence Unit of Trinidad and Tobago, Securities, Insurance, Non-Profit Organisations, the Civil Asset Recovery and Management and Unexplained Wealth and Miscellaneous Provisions (FATF Compliance)] Act, 2024 (Act No. 17 of 2024) comes into operation.It read: “And whereas it is expedient that section 10(d) of the Act comes into operation: Now, therefore, I, Christine Carla kangaroo, President as aforesaid, do hereby fix the 31st day of July, 2026, as the date on which section 10(d) of the Act comes into operation.”The proclamation was signed on July 30 at the Office of the President, St. Ann’s.In November 2025, Kangaloo had signed a series of legislation into law, which were aimed at ensuring the country was compliant with international financial and tax regulations.Legal notices published on November 16, 2025, indicated that these included all sections of the Miscellaneous Provisions (FATF Compliance) Act, 2025, and section 10 (a), (b) and (c) of the Miscellaneous Provisions [Proceeds of Crime, Anti-Terrorism, Financial Intelligence Unit of Trinidad and Tobago, Securities, Insurance, Non-Profit Organisations, the Civil Asset Recovery and Management and Unexplained Wealth and Miscellaneous Provisions (FATF Compliance)] Act, 2024, and sections 4(a), 5(1)(b), and 7(d), (g), (h) and (j) Miscellaneous Provisions (FATF Compliance) Act, 2020.The laws came into effect from November 17, 2025.The Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 2025, was passed without amendments in the House of Representatives on September 16, 2025, and the Senate on September 26, 2025.The Act amended several laws including the Proceeds of Crime Act, Anti-Terrorism Act, Financial Intelligence Unit of Trinidad and Tobago Act, Securities Act, Insurance Act, Non-Profit Organisations Act, and the Civil Asset Recovery and Management and Unexplained Wealth Act.Speaking in the House of Representatives as he piloted the Miscellaneous Provisions (FATF Compliance) Bill, 2025 and the Counter- Proliferation Financing Bill, 2025, Finance Minister Dave Tancoo said “this Government is not making joke in the fight against corruption”.The legislation, among other things, would impose fines as high as $1.75 million for certain breaches by financial institutions and listed businesses.Tancoo added that for the first time, the Board of Inland Revenue (BIR) will have explicit statutory authority to investigate tax-related offences.He noted that the legislation will empower the BIR with investigative powers necessary to detect and deter tax evasion.Tancoo said the bill aimed to achieve full alignment with FATF standards which, among other things, require competent authorities to have the necessary investigative powers to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.The minister said the amendment to the act sought to strengthen the FIUTT’s (Financial Intelligence Unit of Trinidad and Tobago’s) enforcement powers through oral directives, penalties and publication of fines.Through this, he asserted that the FIUTT will not be “just a paper tiger, but it will be a strong, agile and effective watchdog”.Tancoo added that T&T was found to be lacking in the area of tax evasion, which robs the State of much-needed revenue, undermines public confidence in the fairness of the tax system, and provides fertile ground for broader tax schemes.