Why Is the F.I.U. Silent on Caribi Bleu’s Unauthorised Use of ATM?
Prime Minister John Briceño told News Five that if Caribi Bleu Casino is found guilty of wrongdoing, it must face the full extent of the law. This statement follows News Five’s investigation that the casino in San Pedro was operating an unauthorised ATM that dispenses U.S. currency—a clear violation of financial regulations. The Central Bank has confirmed that ATMs, especially those dispensing foreign currency, are prohibited from being installed in casinos.
News Five’s investigation, which spanned eight weeks, revealed multiple layers to the Caribi Bleu story. Initial reports centred around the issuance of numerous golf cart permits for the casino. The San Pedro Town Council’s Traffic Master Log shows that Caribi Bleu Limited only has 20 golf carts registered under its name. However, during a site visit, News Five counted more than a dozen golf carts in the casino’s parking lot. A video later surfaced showing several carts being stored in a nearby building. But when reporters visited the casino at the request of a representative, they were shown an empty facility, and the representative denied that golf carts were being stored there.
The most alarming discovery, however, was the presence of an ATM dispensing U.S. dollars on-site. Prime Minister Briceño told News Five that the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and the Central Bank are responsible for investigating the matter. He stressed that he would not intervene in the investigation but encouraged the regulators to hold those responsible accountable. “Well, I am confident that the Central Bank is going to charge these people or take them to court, and they should; I would encourage them to do so,” Briceño stated.
Central Bank Governor Kareem Michael confirmed on October 27th that an investigation into the casino’s ATM is ongoing. He described it as a “live investigation” and noted that the Central Bank would issue a cease-and-desist order to Caribi Bleu Casino. Michael also raised a critical question: How was the ATM configured to dispense U.S. currency?
The Central Bank has yet to specify the penalties Caribi Bleu could face, but it is likely that sanctions could be enforced under the Currency Exchange Act or the National Payment Systems Act. While ATMs are legal in Belize, their use within casinos and their capacity to dispense foreign currency are strictly regulated.
Adding to the controversy is the lack of transparency from the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), which is the designated supervisory body for casinos. For three weeks, News Five sought comments from the FIU Director, but calls, emails, and messages went unanswered. The FIU is also responsible for investigating the source of the U.S. currency loaded into the ATM, which raises further questions about the casino’s compliance with anti-money laundering regulations.
An additional mystery is the registration status of Caribi Bleu Casino. According to the FIU’s official website, there is no registered casino by that name. This discrepancy has fuelled speculation about the casino’s operations, raising further questions about its legitimacy.
As it stands, both the Central Bank and FIU are tasked with uncovering how the casino was able to circumvent national regulations. Prime Minister Briceño was clear: “If that is so, then they need to be held accountable,” and that “if there are any persons that should be found guilty of any wrongdoing, they should be charged to the fullest extent.”
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