Opposition rejection of accountability in parliament most alarming – Dr Luncheon

June 20, 2013, By KNews, Filed Under News, Source

The abuses of the parliamentary process by the opposition using their one-seat majority continued during the most recent sitting, according to Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon at his weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the President, yesterday.

Dr. Roger Luncheon

“Four security pieces of legislation tabled by Minister Clement Rohee were rejected by the opposition. They were rejected without even a pretense of a contribution by the opposition at a debate,” Dr Luncheon noted.

He explained that the opposition Members of Parliament did not offer a single word justifying their rejection of those specific bills.

Adding that such actions are the height of disrespect, contempt and abuse, Dr Luncheon said that the opposition’s rejection of being accountable even in parliament is most alarming.

“Explanations, justifications to Guyanese, to stakeholders even to their own constituency is obviously considered by the opposition as something voluntary, 32 MP’s telling and emphasizing to Guyanese that we don’t have to offer any explanation to anyone of you on such matters,” Dr Luncheon asserted.

Dr Luncheon also characterized the behaviour of the opposition and special select committees as being “slothful” when dealing with the Anti-Money Laundering Combating Terrorism Amendment Bill.

“The avoidance of a near calamity in Managua Nicaragua recently, seemingly has whetted their (opposition) appetite for the next real thing come November 2013 with no Bill. Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) has made the reality of that November timeline even clearer by confirming on the Parliament Special Select Committee (PSSC) request that the amendment Bill will have to be enacted by August to allow their proper consideration by the November deadline. Deliberate sloth invites a repetition of the calamity that was barely avoided in Managua.”

The government defended its efforts to stem financial crimes when the Plenary Meeting of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) met in Managua, Nicaragua from May 27 to May 30. Thus the extension was given.

The Opposition had chided the government for bringing the amendments to the House at the last minute. However, the government was put on notice at least twice before by the CFATF to amend the legislation.

The CFATF is the Caribbean branch of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the international body which examines a country’s efforts to stem money laundering and dictate what new measures need to be enforced.

In the third round Mutual Evaluation Report, which was adopted by the CFATF Council of Ministers in May 2011 in Honduras, Guyana was placed on expedited follow-up and required to report every Plenary.