This is a poker game, lets see who blinks first. The afc/pnc don't have anything to lose since their drug operations depend on cash so they don't need a legitimate method of money transfer. However you will note that their motives for preventing the passage of the money laundering bill goes to the heart of their operations. If the money laundering bill is passed the afc/pnc will not be able to launder their illegitimate earnings from the drug trade via their various agents with front businesses. Notice how their agent ezjet was used as a conduit then they wash their hands clean and tried to pass the operation off as a PPP one. 

"Private sector wants House to act swiftly on money laundering laws …says Guyana cannot afford to be blacklisted"

 

 

Guyana cannot afford many things, one being the castles their corrupt Govt build for their corrupt party members.

the ppp government need to be wipe out these ass have no right ruling a country

“Guyana presently stands at great risk of being deemed a credit risk by international financiers and becoming subject to sanctions restricting international financial transactions if we do not immediately put in place and implement the legislation required by the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), to counter money laundering and the financing of terrorism…Guyana cannot afford to be blacklisted in this manner.”

Lets put partisan politics aside, and put Guyana first

Councie.....if aya think Ramotar 

or De Private Sector so Powerful in Guyana....

Why Ramotar or De Private Sector.....

Don't go and pass de Bill in Parliament.

 

Opposition stance on Anti-Money Laundering amendment part of sinister plot to remove PPP/C government

(Guyana Chronicle)With six days left before Guyana comes up for review, the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is calling on all social forces to bring to bear pressure on the political Opposition, against what it calls ‘naked vulgarity’ and ‘irresponsibility’ with its stand on the amendments to the Money Laundering Legislation.
Ministers Irfaan Ali and Bishop Juan Edghill, along with party Executive Secretary, Zulfikar Mustapha, yesterday addressed members of the media at the party’s weekly press engagement at Freedom House on Robb Street, where the implications of not approving the legislation before the deadline were outlined.

Not having the amendments in place would not only affect adversely the financial architecture of Guyana, but would also have wider implications for regional groupings such as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), according to Minister with responsibility for commerce in Guyana, Irfaan Ali.
He accused the Opposition, particularly the Alliance for Change (AFC), of utilizing a “sinister plot” to destabilise the development of Guyana in an attempt to create the perception that government has failed in its obligations.
“It’s time to disregard political pettiness…all of us stand to lose,” said Minister Ali, who called the stand by the Opposition a “political blockade.”
He said, “The Opposition has decided that it will block advancement because it wants to see government fail and fall, and wants to make governance impossible.”
Ali accused the combined Opposition of utilizing “psychological warfare” in an attempt to develop a sense of frustration among people, to enable it to score ‘cheap political points.”

Junior Finance Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill, told media operatives that he would have believed that members of the National Assembly would have been more sensitive and responsive to national interest at this particular time.
He reminded that the amendments emanated from a process, adding that there was a long history, known to the Opposition, even before the amendments to the legislation would have been tabled in the National Assembly.
According to Edghill, the purpose of the legislation is to correct a lacuna that exists to ensure that ‘dirty money’ cannot be hidden in various financial institutions.
Guyana, he said, benefited from expert input at both regional and international levels.
He pointed to the fact that the amendments are supported by countries that Guyana undertakes business with, such as the United States, Canada, Britain and the European Union.
The Opposition, he said, “knew of the importance of this, even before the Bill was tabled, and knew Guyana was coming up for review from May 27.”
“Can you imagine the consequence that flows from such action,” said Edghill, in reference to not meeting the internationally imposed deadline.
Insensitivity, unreasonableness and an irrational approach were the words used to describe the position adopted by the Opposition.
Expressing optimism over the possibility of a positive outcome, Bishop Edghill reminded that while government holds the chairperson position on the special select committee tasked with addressing the piece of legislation, the Opposition constitutes the bulk of its members.
As such, he said that as long as there is political will on the part of the Opposition, the deadline can be met.
He said that not even the supporters of the combined Opposition are in agreement with their hard line stand and display of “naked vulgarity.”
“I would want to use opportunity to call on all social forces, not just the private sector, to bring pressure to bear on the Opposition to act responsibly,” said Edghill.
Minister Ali also used the opportunity to point out that failing to meet the deadline would mean that Guyana would have to take approximately seven years to re-attain its status.
The party’s Executive Secretary, Zulfikar Mustapha, said that it is “vengeance” being perpetrated on the part of the opposition, specifically the AFC.
He qualified his position by reminding of the AFC’s pronouncement on the fact that Head of State, Donald Ramotar, had refused to assent to the two opposition Bills passed.

Opposition stance on Anti-Money Laundering amendment part of sinister plot to remove PPP/C government

What is so sinister about removing a corrupted Govt?

YEAHHHHH Opposition!

Looks like Ramoutar just wake up...

President Ramotar apologises to APNU leader for oversight

Presidential Adviser on Governance Gail Teixeira yesterday during an interview with the National Communications Network said that President Donald Ramotar has issued an apology to Opposition Leader Mr. David Granger.
This followed the decision by members of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), to walk out of a meeting convened to discuss the amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill. The opposition left the meeting after they were instructed not to take part in any further discussions by APNU’s leader. This was as a result of a perceived slight by the Opposition over a letter not being shared with them by the President. Teixeira, in reading a part of the President’s correspondence to Mr. Granger, stated that, “I received that correspondence on April 12, 2013, at which time, the Office of the President was pressing for the resumption of budget talks with the parliamentary opposition and preparing for same. Importantly, I was made aware of the situation surrounding Guyana’s compliance to the CFATF obligations derived from the outcome of the CFATF/ICRG assessments. I was equally aware of the planned intervention in collaboration with local, regional and international stakeholders in organizing a workshop on the same matter on Wednesday, April 17.” The letter further stated that, “It is in that context that the omission took place during which I may have committed the imagined slight as your May 20, 2013 correspondence intimates. I can assure you that no such slight was ever intended as your participation was expected at the workshop where the status of Guyana’s situation was the key agenda item.” Teixeira said that while she appreciates that, “Mr. Granger may have felt some type of slight, it must be recognised that the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) encouraged the Head of State, and it was the president’s discretion, to invite who he wanted to, to a workshop where the issues surrounding the critical piece of legislation and recommendations by the oversight group of the CFATF, would be discussed.
She noted, “The president in a generous way, quickly responded to a letter that he received the same day and tried to reach Mr. Granger, and also submitted a copy of this letter, both electronically and  hard copy. We have received no response and further attempts to reach Mr. Granger have been unsuccessful”. Ultimately, Ms. Teixeira, said, the possibility of meeting the internationally stipulated deadline for passing the critical piece of legislation is “very slim”. Initially tabled on April 22, the Parliamentary opposition voted however, to defer the bill after its reading in the National Assembly on May 7 to the Special Select Committee for consideration. That committee was expected to conclude its work by today (May 22). The Special Select Committee comprises government representatives Gail Teixeira, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh and the AG. On the opposition side, representing the Alliance for Change is Khemraj Ramjattan, whilst A Partnership for National Unity is represented by Deborah Backer, Joseph Harmon, Basil Williams and Carl Greenidge. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global watchdog against financial crimes, will meet in Nicaragua from May 27-30 and will examine how Guyana and other countries in the Caribbean are meeting international obligations. If Guyana does not pass the amendments within the given timeframe (May 27), then it shall  be placed on a list with other delinquent countries, and would be visited with a regime of sanctions which will include restrictions in the manner that Guyana does business internationally especially involving wire transfers of funds. Once placed on that list, it takes an average
of approximately seven years to come off. (GINA

Councie, you are the jackass who said that Guyana is an independent country and will not bend to the wishes of outsiders.

hahahahahahahahahahah!

Is she for real? These are the nimconpoops of the PPP/C.

 

Teixeira said that while she appreciates that, “Mr. Granger may have felt some type of slight, it must be recognised that the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) encouraged the Head of State, and it was the president’s discretion, to invite who he wanted to, to a workshop where the issues surrounding the critical piece of legislation and recommendations by the oversight group of the CFATF, would be discussed.

 

 

So Gail saying "it was the president’s discretion, to invite" but now she and Ramoutar would kiss Granger ass and bend over for him for "the possibility of meeting the internationally stipulated deadline for passing the critical piece of legislation" what a freaking moron.... 

When Ramotar was caught  with his deciet, he is now adding insult on insult.

 

Ramotar apologizes for any slight IMAGINED. Now he is  saying the opposition is IMAGINING stuff when the REALITY is there for all to see?

 

APNU and the AFC should hold tight and not cooperate with this corrupt government. Ramotar lied when he claimed the two bills  sent to the President's Ofiice for assent, "never reached his office".

 

Where is Sam? Should he not be the one to intervene and not Texterrier?

It takes a mature person that sees beyond partisan politics to apologize, now the ball is in the joint opposition 's court, to look ahead and quit playing partisan politics and put Guyana first.

APNU reasons for pull-out of Money Laundering obligations a smokescreen …had been looking for an excuse all along - Rohee

Written by Gary Eleazar

Tuesday, 21 May 2013 23:17

HOME Affairs Minister Clement Rohee believes that A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) was merely looking for an excuse to pull out of the Special Select Committee that is tasked with dealing with the amendments to Guyana’s Money Laundering laws.   Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee addresses members of the media on the Opposition pull out of the Special Select Committee on Guyana’s money laundering laws. Minister Rohee, who is a member of the Special Select Committee, yesterday informed members of the media that the reasons proffered by APNU does not hold water but rather he believes the pull out is linked to a host of other issues. APNU’s point man on Finance, Carl Greenidge, in an invited comment yesterday, told the Guyana Chronicle that while he was not present at Monday’s meeting APNU had been informed, that the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force had written to Head of State President Donald Ramotar indicating that the review was imminent along with a number of obligations that Guyana would have had to be undertaken. Gail Teixeira Greenidge explained that the letter by the Regional body had asked that all stakeholders be involved and that the letter be circulated to the Opposition. This, he said, was not done until this past week despite the fact that the President had received the letter in early April. Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition Brigadier (rtd) David Granger subsequently requested an explanation from President Ramotar as to why the letter had not been shared earlier with the Opposition members. At Monday’s meeting of the Special Select Committee the President’s explanation had not been forthcoming and as such the opposition APNU Minister Anil Nandlall decided to pull out of the process. The Chronicle has since been reliably informed that President Ramotar, yesterday, supplied the clarifications to APNU and Opposition Leader David Granger. Rohee, however, maintained that the letter that has been referred to by the political Opposition is merely a smokescreen. “APNU was looking for an excuse which they eventually found in the letter,” said Minister Rohee. Minister Ashni Singh He reminded that the Opposition does not chair the Select Committee and while the Opposition would have made a number of requests, government has acceded to all. The Minister with responsibility for National Security also told reporters that while the Alliance for Change (AFC) would have been “brazen” in its pronouncements on the Money Laundering laws along with its demands this was not the case with the APNU that had merely been looking for an excuse. “ Carl Greenidge I think that letter issue was used as an excuse to pull out…it’s not the letter it’s a host of other matters,” said Rohee, as he maintains that the Opposition has been looking all along for a pretext to pull out of their obligations to the Committee meetings. The Minister told reporters that the arguments put forward by the Committee Chairperson in the person of Government’s Chief Whip Gail Teixeira, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh and Attorney General Anil Nandlall were very convincing. David Granger He reminded that all of the documents that had been referred to by the Opposition had been supplied, “every single document they asked for.” Rohee said the fact is that Government has been pressing for more meetings and had indicated its willingness to work every day but the combined opposition had been opposed to this.

The AFC should  write to the CFT ahead of the May 27 plenary session in Nicaragua outlining reasons for voting down the bill and place the PPP/C regime's dalliance on the matter in the context of pervasive corruption in government.

 

AFC!

The AFC needs to stop playing partisan politics with the livelihood of the Guyanese populace, its clear to see that political gathering termed the AFC, is a bunch of super ego-centric individuals would would stop at anything just to attract a ray of limelight

The country's progress is held hostage by negative politics of the joint opposition. The government must inform the public of the consequences of AFC/APNU actions. The people must know who are the elements subjecting them to these risks. Utilize all available resources, TV , print and public meetings to inform the people.
Then let the Guyanese populace decide.

Opposition would stoop to any level to frustrate meeting deadline of Money Laundering Amendments – Dr. Luncheon

Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon has stated that the opposition parties would do anything to ensure that the amendments to the Anti Money Laundering and Countering of Financing for Terrorism Bill are not passed in Parliament.

“It was evident that the opposition would stoop to any level whatsoever to frustrate meeting the deadline for enactment of the Bill. In essence, the President’s omission to share the letter from the co –chair, with not only the Leader of the opposition, but with the other local stakeholders was used strangely, inexplicably, incomprehensively by Brigadier Granger to withdraw the APNU members on the parliamentary select committee considering the Bill from further participation,” Dr. Luncheon stated today at his weekly post cabinet meeting.

According to Dr. Luncheon, the opposition parties – A Partnership for National Unity [APNU] and the Alliance for Change [AFC] has used every possible forum to inform Guyana and Guyanese of its non support of the Bill.

“The level to which the APNU has descended to ensure the deadline was not met must be recorded and was commented on at cabinet.”

APNU members who are sitting on the special select committee for the Anti Money Laundering Amendment Bill walked out of the meeting this week, after their leader, Granger informed them not to participate in the discussions until a satisfactory response is received from the President as to why the letter from the Caribbean Financial Action task Force (CFATF was not circulated to the opposition parties.

Presidential Advisor, Gail Teixeira has since noted that President Ramotar wrote a letter of apology to the Opposition Leader explaining the reason for the oversight.

Money Laundering amendments - Gov’t will be exonerated, nation will be persecuted …opposition will have to bear responsibility-AG

Thursday, 23 May 2013 23:02

IT IS now almost certain that international sanctions will be imposed on Guyana’s financial architecture, given its failure to have legislative requirements in place before the deadline expired. And Attorney General Anil Nandlall believes that while government will be exonerated as a result of its efforts, the nation will be persecuted. President Donald Ramotar Nandlall in a brief interview with the Guyana Chronicle yesterday, provided an update on the work of the Special Select Committee tasked with addressing the amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism laws and informed that the opposition has now asked that the matter be deferred until June. The Committee resumed meeting yesterday morning after A Partnership for National Unity had earlier in the week withdrew its participation. The Committee, he said, will resume its work on addressing the amendments on June 12; even as he will travel to Nicaragua in a last ditch attempt to plead Guyana’s case. Attorney General Anil Nandlall Guyana would have had to have its amendments approved in the House at a Special Sitting of the National Assembly by today. Head of State Donald Ramotar had appealed for the special sitting, but this did not find consensus with the combined political Opposition in the House. Nandlall informed the Guyana Chronicle that, as a result, he will be heading to Nicaragua along with a delegation from the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Ministry of Finance to attend the mandatory country review by the Financial Action taskforce. According to the Attorney General, who also serves as Minister of Legal Affairs, while he will seek to outline the efforts made on the part of the Guyana Government to have the legislative amendments to Guyana’s money laundering laws in place, sanctions are now an almost certainty. Nandlall says that the nation must understand that it is the political opposition that will have to be held responsible for Guyana missing the deadline and causing the sanctions to be imposed on the nation. The minister says that he will be providing the review body with a comprehensive outline of the Government efforts to comply with the stipulations. Nandlall reminded that he had already previously informed the review body of the nature of the current dispensation in Parliament, and would seek to make an appeal to have the body provide Guyana with an extension to the deadline. This he said is not a guarantee. Head of State Donald Ramotar, in an unprecedented appeal to members of the National Assembly during this week’s sitting of the House, had asked that they “put Guyana first.” Ramotar, in the plea, through Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, had asked that the members of the House, particularly at the level of the Special Select Committee, do all that is possible to complete the review of the legislative amendments. In his appeal, Ramotar had said that it may be important to consider that many other countries in the Caribbean would have also experienced challenges in meeting recommendations by the task force review group, in meeting deficiencies in their money laundering laws; but noteworthy is that in those crucial times, the various legislative bodies “have been able to rise to the occasion and protect national interest.” The President used the opportunity to remind of the repercussions that had been meted out to countries that would have had their statuses downgraded as a result of failing to abide with the international obligations. “We have a moral responsible to ensure Guyana’s obligations,” are met, according to Ramotar, who said that the amendments will bring Guyana in compliance with over 90 per cent of the recommendations. “The Guyanese people are watching,” cautioned Ramotar, even as he had expressed an optimism that as “as honourable men and women, you will do what is right for our blessed country.”