Recently, the insurance premium on my motor vehicle became due. Along with the renewal notice, I received a form which requested my personal data. This form stated that this is a recent requirement of the Bank of Jamaica that all financial institutions are required to adhere to, in order to lessen or prevent money laundering.

In all my years of working very hard, I never acquired enough money to 'wash' a few notes, let alone 'launder' a whole load. I say this against the background of knowing that some people will never attempt to launder money. They just don't fall in that category. Why then, should such a general request be made in the gathering of such data?

Proper discourse

The people who tend to launder money have enough to pay whom they can to insure their vehicles without their having to fill in this form or any other, and will continue to do so, no matter what.

I just wished that the responsible or relevant authorities would have proper discourse and arrive at sensible, suitable decisions before they go public with some of these unnecessary policies.

This one beats me! Can someone please tell me how gathering personal data from innocent, ordinary people with years of reputable track records is going to stop money laundering as it is perceived in Jamaica?

I am, etc.,

ROSE DEWAR

rldewar@hotmail.com

Manchester.