Attorney General Basil Williams addressing stakeholders at the consultation on the Anti-Terrorism and Terrorist Related Activities Bill 2015

By Kristen Macklingam

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) is of the view that consultations should be held between government and stakeholders for all Bills to be tabled in the Parliament since such laws would affect everyone.

This is according to former chairman of the PSC, Captain Gerald Gouveia, who during a consultation on the proposed Anti-Terrorism and Terrorist Related Activities Bill 2015 on Monday at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, stated that consultation is “not a choice” and therefore the administration should not be selective about which issues would warrant consultation with the business community.

However Attorney General (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams is of a different view and posited that while he understands the need for consultations, it is not feasible for such to take place on each Bill.

In addressing those gathered at the consultation, Gouveia said: “I think it is something we must do and must continue to do… I want to say to you that from where the PSC stands that is, and I mean all the Private Sector: the Lethem Chamber of Commerce, the Rupununi, there are no issues in Guyana that are off limits to consultation… we really, really expect in good faith to be consulted on every facet of development in our country.”

He acknowledged that while there may be some matters which will be ‘intense’ and ‘in depth’ there would be others which would be deemed ‘cursory’; nevertheless, consultations are necessary.

According to Gouveia, consultations can occur in many forms: over the phone, through emails, teleconferences, and heads of organisations or associations, etc.

“I want to urge you AG, I mean do this in good faith, good trust, that we are on the same wavelength which is for the development of Guyana… I want to urge you that consultation should not be cherry picked, it should be really widespread… But I will want to urge you not to do it in-house, in the corridors of government,” the former PSC head maintained.

However, Minister Williams in declaring that his administration is an “open government” which believes in accountability and transparency, stated that while he agrees consultations are necessary, such acts would be costly and time consuming.

He urged that stakeholders understand and try to relate to what is being proposed, bearing in mind that government is not trying to “hide anything” from its citizens:

“I think consultations are important also to give the population the consciousness and the understanding of why these bills, why this law, etc… the only question I was asking you was… every bill that we put out do we first have to get everybody to come and have a consultation on every bill that we put out as a government? I mean, how do we proceed in a manner like that? It leads to the question as to what form should consultations take.”

He said persons should feel free to consult with the administration over any issues especially ones of national interest which would affect the country however with regards to consultations this is a decision that Cabinet would have to deliberate on.

“Every bill that we have we should have a consultation, invite the world to come and try to get it done? If that is what you’re suggesting we will take it on board. We are saying to you that we are willing to work with you, so for us to have consultations on everything, that is something we will have to take to Cabinet; I will take your views to Cabinet and see what comes out of that.” the AG added.