President reaffirms Government’s commitment to fighting corruption
–cites proposed DEA office, AML/CFT Bill
PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar has called for the recognition of the Government’s reaffirmed commitment to fighting corruption as is evident by the proposed establishment of the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) office in Guyana, and the advocacy for the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering of Financial of Terrorism (AML/CFT).
The President was speaking Saturday at a press conference at State House, Georgetown, where he noted that in the battle against trafficking of drugs and other illicit substances, “[It] is not the task of one country because of the volume of money that is involved in it [as well as] the linkages.”
President Ramotar alluded to the recent disclosure by the Assistant Secretary of State of the United States, Mr. William Brownfield that the assassination of prominent Trinidadian Attorney-at-Law, Dana Seetahal was an action commanded from outside of the twin island republic.
Reinforcing Guyana’s commitment to the international fight, the President asserted that more international cooperation is needed to effectively be rid of the global trafficking in illicit substances, which he recognised as the “globalised nature of the beast.”
Speaking at a recent joint press conference with President Ramotar, outgoing United States Ambassador, D. Brent Hardt observed that the DEA brings to the table the ability to build cases against major trafficking organisations. He said the “extra capacity” will strengthen what is already a “strong partnership” as the cooperation in cracking down on narco-trafficking is taken to another level.
Noting that the DEA has been working very closely with the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) for many years, Ambassador Hardt said, “I have always believed that a DEA office on the ground in Guyana would allow us to take our counter-narcotics cooperation to an even higher level.”
Meanwhile, the President expressed unambiguous support for the presence of the DEA office since it also brings to the surface the question of “strengthening our financial system”, which is directly linked to the passage of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering of Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) bill.
President Ramotar stressed that the AML/CFT bill, “Is at the core of that development.”
The AML/CFT bill is regarded by the international community through the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as being the most effective mechanism in ensuring a globalised financial system which is unsupportive of international criminal activities.
Mr. Ramotar underscored that the bill is not only an anti-corruption bill but also an ideal mechanism for ensuring the country’s effectiveness in the fight against drug trafficking and laundering of finances by criminals from illegitimate activities.
Adverse public statements against Guyana’s financial system had been issued earlier this year by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF). The statement urged other countries and financial institutions in the Region, which regularly do business with Guyana to protect themselves from money laundering and terrorist financing threats emanating from Guyana. Guyana has since been referred to the International Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
President Ramotar stressed that to be against the passage of the AML/CFT bill is “objectively” to be in support of international criminals, terrorists and money launderers. The Head of State conclusively reaffirmed that the “Government’s position is unambiguous,” and he questioned the motives of the combined Opposition in their unwillingness to pass the bill. Since such legislation, “could give us more international cooperation to create a very inhospitable climate for those who are engaged in these types of activities.”
(By Derwayne Wills)
