Battle lines drawn: AFC demands President assent to Opposition Bills, set deadline for Public Procurement Commission

 - threatens to withdraw support for amendments to financial crimes Bill

Khemraj Ramjattan

A political battlefield is being set up for the days ahead with the seven-seat Parliamentary party, Alliance for Change (AFC), threatening to withdraw support for the amendments to the law on financial crimes unless its demands are met.
The AFC has two demands. It wants President Donald Ramotar to re-consider withholding his assent to two Bills piloted by the opposition-controlled house. The party also wants the government to set a deadline for the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) which will help halt corruption in the award of contracts funded by the public purse.
The legislation under consideration is the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering of Financing Terrorism Act (AMLCFTA).
Non-passage of the legislation could shame the government for failing to act and could put the country on an international blacklist for not doing enough to combat money laundering and stopping financing for terrorism.  A Special Parliamentary Committee was set up to examine and tidy up the amendments proposed by the government. The AFC is participating in the work of the Commission, but when the amendments come up for a vote on May 22, the AFC could withhold its support.
The AFC holds the balance of power in the National Assembly. Any intentions of the majority parties in the House – APNU and the ruling PPP – can be paralysed without the AFC’s backing.
The President has refused to give his assent to the Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Bill and the Former Presidents (Facilities and Other Benefits) Bill, saying that the Bills are in conflict with the constitution.  Khemraj Ramjattan, leader of the AFC, said that the position of the President is outrageous and that the argument about the constitutionality of the Bills is “wholly unmeritorious” and “totally ridiculous.”
“This government (disrespects) the National Assembly and the people’s elected representatives,” Ramjattan declared yesterday.
He said that the AFC is ready to get into “hard dealing” with the government because its demands are not unreasonable.
In the case of the Former Presidents (Facilities and Other Benefits), Ramjattan said it is reasonable for the National Assembly to demand that the benefits of former Presidents be capped.
The original law, signed by former President Bharrat Jagdeo, gives him unlimited access to vehicles, security guards, gardeners and cooks in addition to his cash pension which amounts to $1.2 million a month.
Further, Ramjattan said that the Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Bill was intended to enhance good governance and streamline accountability.
Regarding the demand for the Public Procurement Commission, Ramjattan said the ruling party has refused to identify its nominees.
He said that wanting this Commission in place is not unreasonable, as it is a “right” for the Commission to be set up. He said that the absence of the Commission is why corruption continues.
The government is due to defend its efforts to stem financial crimes when the Plenary Meeting of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) meets in Managua, Nicaragua from May 27 to May 30. The government attempted to force passage of the amendments two Tuesdays ago but the opposition forced the setting up of the Special Committee to examine the government’s proposal, saying the legislation is too important to be rushed.
Those on the Committee from the government side are Chief Whip Gail Teixeira (who chairs the Committee), Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh and Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall. On the opposition side, Khemraj Ramjattan is representing the Alliance For Change, while A Partnership for National Unity named Deborah Backer, Joseph Harmon, Basil Williams and Carl Greenidge. Further, the government was chided for bringing the amendments to the House at the last minute.
The government was put on notice at least twice before by the CFATF to amend the legislation, but only tabled it last month.
The CFATF is the Caribbean branch of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the international body which examines a country’s efforts to stem money laundering and dictate what new measures need to be enforced.
In the third round Mutual Evaluation Report, which was adopted by the CFATF Council of Ministers in May 2011 in Honduras, Guyana was placed on expedited follow-up and required to report at every Plenary.
Guyana was rated partially compliant or noncompliant on 16 Core and Key Recommendations and 25 other Recommendations.