Opposition is displaying naked vulgarity – PPP
Junior Minister for Finance, Bishop Juan Edghill is of the view that the political opposition parties in Guyana are displaying naked vulgarity by not supporting the Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill.
At the People’s Progressive Party Civic [PPP/C] press conference this morning, Monday May 20, Edghill said that he was informed by the government’s Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira that all the necessary information in relation to the Bill have been submitted to the opposition.
“…there seems to be a lack of political will and then the disappointment and the insensitivity that I am speaking about is tying support to the president assenting to two opposition bills and then bold facedly saying you might wanna call it political hard lining, I don’t care, if that is the case so let it be. I think it is naked vulgarity and I would like to ask at this particular stage – it’s not too late, that the distinguished members of the opposition who were elected by the people of Guyana become aware that even the people who elected them are not supporting them in this naked display of vulgarity and wanting to extract a new political leverage to benefit themselves in a way that is unreasonable and irrational that puts Guyana at great danger,” the PPP parliamentarian said.
Additionally, Executive Secretary of the PPP, Mr. Zulficar Mustapha said that the stance by the Alliance For Change [AFC] indicates that they are prepared to let the entire nation suffer.
“Such is the reality, even their staunchest of supporters are now coming to grips with based on that party’s latest position on the (Amendment )to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism bill.
We have heard both the AFC and APNU indicating how important this amendment is in their decision to send it to a special select committee, what we have not heard from them are any tangible suggestions on what they would like to have included in this amendment.”
According to the PPP, this confirms that the only aim of the opposition is to stall the Bill past the deadline so that Guyana can be blacklisted internationally.
The AFC announced last week that the party will no longer support the Bill given the fact that President Donald Ramotar has not assented to two bills which were recently passed in Parliament.
A Partnership for National Unity [APNU] said the party will support the bill once the necessary amendments are made. However, it was noted that it is not a priority for APNU to meet the Bill’s deadline; instead they are focused on thoroughly scrutinizing the legislation.