Diplomatic pressure forces AFC/APNU to budge on Money Laundering Bill

- fear of visa sanctions from western countries cited as a possible reason for Opposition’s sudden ‘change of heart’
A HIGH-LEVEL delegation of key western diplomats here in Guyana met with officials of the main Opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) on Tuesday, as they continue to pressure that party to heed the clarion call by Guyanese from all walks of life, including and especially those from the nation’s key financial and commercial sectors – the Private Sector Commission, the Insurance Association of Guyana, the Guyana Bankers Association, and the Guyana Manufacturers & Services Association – to move forward with the government and pass the crucial anti-money laundering (amendment) bill.
The high-level delegation of resident diplomats from the powerful ‘West’ that attended Tuesday’s meeting are European Union representative Derek Lambe; British High Commissioner to Guyana Andrew Ayre; Canadian High Commissioner Dr Nicole Giles; and US Ambassador Brent Hardt. They met with APNU officials Joe Harmon, Ronald Bulkan, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, David Granger, Basil Williams and Carl Greenidge.
In the aftermath of, and consequential to that important meeting on Tuesday, observers have indicated that there is a seeming ‘change’ in the approach and attitude from the Opposition as it relates to their “obnoxiously hard-line stance” in giving even an iota of support to the anti-money laundering (amendment) bill.

“What does the Opposition have to gain from delaying the passage of this amendment? Are they so vindictive that they are willing to bring economic hardship on the Guyanese people so as to make the PPP/C look bad at the next elections? Or is there a more nefarious reason? Is there a link between money laundering and the Opposition’s sudden ability to stage large events and push forward heady political campaigns? An Opposition that before elections was low on support and even worse off on financing may have a lot to gain from money laundering.”

While this is obviously a most belated but welcome development, some observers have opined that it would not be unfair to assume, that a fear emanating from the Opposition camp of possible visa sanctions on its members, is one of the main – if not only – reason for the Opposition now seemingly taking a nationalistic stance on this highly important issue, rather than an obviously vindictive position of non-support at all cost.

PYO condemns Opposition
Meanwhile, the Progressive Youth Organisation has, yet again, joined the fray in condemning the Opposition parties in Parliament for their inability or unwillingness to pass the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AMLCFT) Amendment.
“We would again like to reiterate the detrimental effect the non-passage of this amendment will have on the Guyanese people,” the PYO said in a statement issued late on Tuesday night.
“It will affect remittances for many Guyanese families as financial transactions will have to come under increased scrutiny, thereby raising the cost of these transactions. It can even cause the blocking of these remittances completely from coming to Guyana if foreign companies and countries wish, due to the non- passing of the amendment,” the PYO contended.
According to the PYO, which is the youth arm of the governing PPP/C, this same Opposition alliance of the AFC and APNU makes a din about youth employment, but are willing to block foreign investments in Guyana that will produce more jobs. It alluded to the fact that the Opposition requested the amendment be taken to the Select Committee then decided not to even bother attending the meetings. “The PPP/C Parliamentarians completed the work as time is too precious to dally on the whims of incompetent opposition politicians,” the PYO declared.
It said the people of Guyana need to know the reason for these delays.
“What does the Opposition have to gain from delaying the passage of this amendment? Are they so vindictive that they are willing to bring economic hardship on the Guyanese people so as to make the PPP/C look bad at the next elections? Or is there a more nefarious reason? Is there a link between money laundering and the Opposition’s sudden ability to stage large events and push forward heady political campaigns? An Opposition that before elections was low on support and even worse off on financing may have a lot to gain from money laundering.”

The PYO is also of the view that all of the Opposition members who voted against the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism Amendment should have their visas rescinded by the US, Canadian and UK authorities.
“To vote against the legislation is to support the continuation of money laundering and other manifestations of financial crimes, including financial backing for terrorist activities which is also a crime of enormous proportion,” the PYO stated.
“Such actions must be denounced and sanctioned by the international community resident in Guyana,” it added.

excerpts from the Guyanachronicle