Bills on anti-money laundering, slashing former presidents benefits for Parliament
1 hour ago
Thursday’s second sitting of the 11th Parliament will see two pieces of legislation which were at the centre of a titanic standoff between the government and the opposition in 2012: the anti-money laundering bill and another to slash the benefits of former presidents.
Bills on anti-money laundering,
slashing former presidents benefits
for Parliament
Thursday’s second sitting of the 11th Parliament will see two pieces of legislation which were at the centre of a titanic standoff between the government and the opposition in 2012:
the anti-money laundering bill
and another to slash the benefits of former presidents.
The now opposition PPP/C
is unlikely to be in the house
when the APNU+AFC versions
of the Former Presidents (Benefits and other Facilities) Bill 2015
and
the Anti-Money Laundering
and Countering the Financing of Terrorism
(Amendment) Bill 2015 are tabled.
These bills are likely to be similar
to the ones circulated by the opposition
in the 10th Parliament.
President Donald Ramotar had refused
to assent to the bill tapering the former presidents benefits
which had been passed by APNU and AFC
which together had a one-seat majority in the 10th parliament.
The PPP/C’s version of the anti-money laundering bill
failed to gain the support of APNU and the AFC
because both of those groups wanted
more robust legislation and arrangements
to ensure the prosecution
of those engaged in money-laundering.
At the committee level,
APNU and the AFC had circulated
their own version of the bill
which did not find favour with the PPP/C
Other matters for Thursday’s sitting
include the laying of
the Report of the Auditor General
on the Public Accounts of Guyana
and the Accounts of Ministries/Departments/Regions
for the year ended December 31st, 2013.
Also for tabling are the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2015
which will amend the Third Schedule relating to Article 222A of the Constitution to provide financial autonomy to certain entities.
This had been another bill
that the opposition had sought
to have the Donald Ramotar administration pass
to no avail.
Down also for first reading are
the Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Bill
and the Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2015
which aims to amend the Local Government Act.
In the 10th parliament, the then opposition APNU and AFC
had been attempting to have the Local Government Ministry
divested of certain powers as it relates to local government.
Thursday’s sitting will also see
the customary motion for the approval of government’s policy
in the President’s address
at the first sitting of the assembly on June 10th.
The PPP/C has not yet decided
when it will take up its 32 seats in parliament.
Analysts say that the party
also needs to work out
what its hierarchy will be in the House.
This would require
the settlement of leadership arrangements
within the party first.
De Jihaji Crab Louse Ravi Dev
and Kwame McCoy
now wants to be
the leaders of the PPP..
