ECONOMIC SABOTAGE – Opposition holds country to ransom as ‘crisis hour’ approaches
IT is not that the Executive did not explain to the entire nation what dire consequences a non-ratification of the Anti-Money Laundering and Financing the Countering of Terrorism Bill would hold for Guyana.Concomitantly, also, there were numerous appeals to the parliamentary Opposition parties, APNU and the AFC, seeking their urgent cooperation and support for passage of the required legislation that will satisfy the requirements as specified by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF).
Now, the recent whole-page ads in the newspapers, publicised separately by the Private Sector Commission of Guyana, and the Insurance Association of Guyana, with their very ominous portents, explaining the steps already underway to blacklist Guyana because of its non-adherence to the legislative process, would have finally brought home to the entire nation what the grossly irresponsible action of non-support by the political Opposition is likely to cost our nation.
This newspaper is reiterating this point because anyone recalling the many statements emanating from Opposition quarters would have been made to believe that the matter of legislating this Bill was not that important, much less being very urgent.
It could only be described as unbelievable, the contents and tone of Opposition spokespersons’ response to a situation that is pivotal to this nation’s daily economic existence and survival. Unmistakably, this was narrow political interest and partisanship shamefully on display, rather than a demanded rise to the level of ‘country first’.
Sad to say, that it still business as usual, if one is to be guided by the latest and still unchanged position of the combined parliamentary Opposition. How can the AFC’s leader still be demanding that the government supports his call for Procurement legislation, in exchange for his party’s support of the Anti-Money Laundering Bill, and the APNU still holding to the position of scrutiny of the proposed legislation, a process that it ought to have completed long ago, given the fact of the extended deadline at the Nicaragua meeting?
Surely, these two parties cannot lay claim to discharging their national responsibilities of leadership with such positions that are as far separate from what is demanded at this approaching crisis hour. While one is clearly applying extortion tactics, the other is simply indulging in power politics display.
What further exhortations must be made upon these two parties for them to understand that their deliberate action can only bring great embarrassment to a nation they claim to love, and hardships to all, including their many constituents?
The action by the APNU and AFC amount to economic sabotage of the nation’s socio-economic progress.
The nation must now be mobilised against this threat.
excerpts from the Guyana chronicle
