APNU desperate – Minster Edghill – debunks Harmon’s accusation that Town Hall meetings were staged

Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Juan Edghill has deemed as an act of desperation the Opposition’s statements that the recently concluded Town Hall meetings on the Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLCFT) (Amendment) Bill were staged, and were poorly attended.

It was reported today in an online news outfit that A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member Joseph Harmon accused the administration of a ‘command performance’ and suggested that persons were paid to attend the meetings.

Three recent town hall meetings held in New Amsterdam, Linden and Bartica were all well attended, and residents freely asked questions on the Bill.

New Amsterdam residents at the town hall meeting

Minister Edghill in response to the report told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that it was obvious that APNU and its members are buckling under pressure that came from their own supporters during the public meetings.

“Mr. Harmon’s statement represents the desperation that exists in the camp of the APNU, and as the Cabinet member who was tasked with the responsibility of organising these three meetings, I can tell you of the process that was used to sensitise the public about the activities and to encourage attendance.”

Mr. Edghill pointed out that advertisements were placed on television in the various areas where the meetings were held, and were published in the newspapers showing the time and venue of each meeting. He added that telephone calls were made from his office, to the various stakeholders making them aware of the meetings.

“At no time was anyone paid, promised to be paid, commanded, or bullied to attend, if that was the case I would like to ask Mr. Harmon if the members and known activists from his party who attended these meetings were paid by the APNU to attend the meeting,” Minister Edghill stated.

“He should say this and having been paid to attend, to carry out an unknown agenda and, having listened to members of the Government side of the Parliamentary select committee they changed their minds because none supported any of the APNU amendments,” he added.

Linden residents at the town hall meeting at the Watooka House

The Minister noted too, that all three meetings which he himself attended, many APNU activists were not only present, but were very vocal in airing their views, none of which supported the amendments put forwards by the APNU.

Minister Edghill said there was no attempt to put a ‘spin’ on the amendments during any of the meetings, as was also suggested by Mr. Harmon.

“We took to the people exactly what were the amendments, we did not go to the area where the PPP/C has a strong hold, and despite the Regional Chairman being on radio on the day of the Linden meeting suggesting that our meeting was off there was a large turnout at the Watooka House,” he stated.

With respect to Mr. Harmon’s statement that the meetings were poorly attended, Minister Edghill said this was far from the truth and Mr. Harmon must be getting inaccurate reports.

“Mr. Harmon is a man who is known to have had some involvement in the intelligence community in the past, but it would appear that his sources have become very unreliable or they are telling him what he wants to hear. All meetings were well attended”.

The Minister added that from all indication, APNU is feeling the impact because; it is their own supporters who are saying they are not in support of the amendments, and are calling for the passage of the bill.

The AMLCFT Bill has been a contentious issue for more than 10 months, and while there has been no support from APNU for its passage, efforts are still being made to make Guyana compliant with the International Financial requirements.