Opposition putting its narrow agenda before welfare, interest of the nation-President Ramotar : -rejects its own Bill
Pull quote: “Unfortunately, the Opposition seems to have put more importance on its own narrow political, Party agenda before the welfare and interest of our people.” – President Donald Ramotar
GUYANA has already been regionally blacklisted by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) and it faces definite international blacklisting by international body, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which meets from tomorrow to Wednesday.The nation’s economy, already grappling with the consequences of pronouncements of CFATF, stands to lose much more if Guyana is included in FATF’s its International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG) – a process that a country could take as many as seven years to exit.
With much at stake, President Donald Ramotar met with the Leader of the main Opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), David Granger last Wednesday, and indicated Government’s willingness to pass the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) (Amendment) Bill, as well as APNU’s amendments to the Principal ALM/CFT Act– despite the current administration’s position that they were non-compliant with international standards. The offer was made with the understanding that if CFATF and FATF found that APNU’s Bill contained non-compliant provisions, that the Opposition would support amending the Bill accordingly.
APNU rejected the Head of State’s offer, essentially rejecting their Bill that proposes amendments to the Principal AML/CFT Act.
The President on Thursday addressed the nation and said: “We have worked hard to get the Legislation through, because we believe that the consequences could be very serious for our people.
“We said before that it was a patriotic duty to have this Bill passed, and spare you the Guyanese people the negative consequences of not doing so.”
“Unfortunately, the Opposition seems to have put more importance on its own narrow political, Party agenda before the welfare and interest of our people.”
ALL OR NOTHING
The main Opposition’s position reflects an all or nothing stance as APNU maintains its call for other conditionalities to be met, before the AML/CFT (Amendment) Bill is supported.
APNU had not only proposed three amendments, which were included in the party’s draft amendments to the Principal AML/CFT Act, but called on the President to given his assent to several Bills passed in the National Assembly, including the Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Bill 2013, which states that elections must be held on or before August 1, 2014. The Head of State has already forwarded his explanation for his-non assent to the National Assembly.
On the other hand, the AFC, which is fully behind APNU’s position, is demanding the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC), which the government has agreed to, providing that Cabinet retains its no-objection role in the process; but the latter position has been rejected by the AFC. However, on May 29, after the announcement by CFATF, the AFC, in a statement, noted that it is now willing to budge on its position and support Cabinet’s retention of its no-objection role.
“I also proposed that because of the urgency of the matter, that the Opposition would not link my offer to pass their Bill to their other demands: (1) My assent of all Bills passed by National Assembly; and (2) my support for the Public Procurement Commission being established without Cabinet retaining its role in granting no-objection to awards above $15M (GYD). The Opposition Leader declined my offer,” the President said on Thursday night.
TWICE REJECTED
This is the second time the Government’s offer to reach a compromise was rejected.
Last Monday, Ms. Gail Teixeira, also the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Special Select Committee reviewing the AML/CFT (Amendment) Bill, reported that Government last Friday indicated its willingness to compromise on the three “sticking points” that is holding up agreement on the Bill, but this was rejected by the main Opposition.
“We were rebuffed; we did not have the kind of response from APNU… We tried to have a meeting to reach compromise; something Government was clear that it was willing to do. Unfortunately, it appears that APNU is either not interested or unable to accept our offer,” she said.
Ms. Teixeira explained that she went to great lengths to stress the urgency of having a Bill brought to the National Assembly, and pointed out that after the June 11 Select Committee meeting, there was only disagreement on three areas.
“What we have before the Committee is three versions of two Bills: The Government’s AML/CFT (Amendment) Bill; APNU’s draft amendments to the Principal AML/CFT Act; and the AG’s counter-proposals, which addressed the problem areas in APNU’s amendment,” she said.
The enactment of the AML/CFT (Amendment) Bill before CFATF’s meeting in May, by all accounts, could have averted Guyana’s referral to CFATF, particularly since the body noted that 90 per cent of the deficiencies identified are legislative in nature.
The Bill, to meet CFATF’s requirements, was tabled in the National Assembly in April 2013, but referred to a Parliamentary Special Select Committee and eventually voted down by the combined Opposition in November 2013. The Bill was re-tabled in December 2013, and again referred to the Parliamentary Special Select Committee, where it has been since.
Government has since restated its assurance to do all that is possible to protect the interests of the Guyanese people and the country as a whole.
“Compatriots, I wish to assure you that we would continue to do all we can to protect our nation’s interests. Regrettably, this is now being made much more difficult because of the clear unpatriotic stance taken by the Opposition, APNU,” President Ramotar said.
Written By Vanessa Narine
excerpts from the Guyana Chronicle