PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar, yesterday, said the unanimous vote that effectively killed the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Amendment Bill in Parliament, on Thursday, has forced his Government to re-examine its future relationship with the Opposition parties.

President Donald Ramotar

“With last night’s (Thursday) development, all hope is lost that the Opposition has any intention in being a partner in developing our country,” he said at a media briefing in Office of the President (OP) yesterday.
Ramotar said, as Head of State, he has constitutional responsibilities that he must execute in moving forward.
“What is obvious to me is that the Opposition has no intention of being a partner to develop Guyana…I don’t have a partner in the Opposition,” he lamented.
According to him, Attorney General Anil Nandlall and Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), Paul Geer, have been instructed to explore “thoroughly” ways of dealing with the impact of the rejection of the AML/CFT Bill.
The President said:“I am not clear what the options are, but I am asking them to do what they can…this is not an action caused by the Government; this is an action caused by an Opposition that seems to be ‘gung-ho’ on getting power at any cost, regardless of how many lives they destroy.”
Ramotar said he is hopeful that the Government’s political will can be taken into account when Guyana’s team, led by the AG, heads to the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) plenary meeting scheduled for November 18.
However, he acknowledged that, whether the appeal will have any impact is something that is left to be seen.

‘I am not clear what the options (now) are…this is not an action caused by the Government; this is an action caused by an Opposition that seems to be ‘gung-ho’ on getting power at any cost, regardless of how many lives they destroy’

“The Opposition attitude in Parliament yesterday confirms Guyanese worst fear. Their vote against the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill clearly demonstrates that the Opposition is responsible to no one, to no organisation, to no social institution…their action last night, November 7, will forever go down as the worst form of economic sabotage by the Opposition,” he said.
The AML/CFT Bill cannot return to the National Assembly in this session, unless Standing Orders are suspended to allow for its reconsideration, something the President was not optimistic about.
He acknowledged that the amendments in the Bill, reached by working with CFATF, are generally similar to other such legislations in the Caribbean Region, with little variations, as was the intention of CFATF to formalise the legal framework within which money laundering and terrorism financing activities could be addressed.

UNDOUBTEDLY DIRE
He emphasised that, while Guyana will make representation to CFATF, the consequences of the Bill’s passage are undoubtedly dire.
The President pointed to several instances, including the impact on the smooth transfer of monies by the business sector’s operations; the functioning of banks with external links, already being seen with the cessation of

The arbitrary use of the one-seat majority in Parliament convinces us that APNU and AFC have no regard for Guyanese and the well-being of our society

operations by the Citi-Bank group in Guyana; the challenges with access to insurance, since 85 per cent of local companies depend on reinsurance from overseas bodies and increased burdens in processing remittances.
“What is worse is that long before they cast their vote, the Opposition was well aware of these consequences…they were briefed fully on this matter,” Ramotar maintained.
The Head of State inferred it is clear that the joint Opposition is intent on damaging the economy.
“Both the Minister of Finance and the Attorney General have been speaking about this constantly and explaining fully what the consequences are…the Opposition did what they did with their eyes wide open,” Ramotar stated.
He insisted that the Opposition, which was elected to represent Guyanese, has consistently shown scant regard for the private sector, the labour movement, the rice farmers and the teachers, among others, many of whom are part of their constituencies.

WORST PERIOD
Ramotar said: “AFC (Alliance For Change) Vice Chairman Moses Nagamootoo’s comments last night, that the Private Sector does not have a vote in Parliament is not only unfortunate, but also reckless. Then Greenidge referred to the private sector as a bunch of propagandists. This is not surprising, since he presided over the worst period of mismanagement and unaccountability in Guyana.
“The implications of not having the AML/CFT Bill are far reaching and have dire consequences…they will be imposing hardships on our people.
“The very PNC (People’s National Congress) now APNU (A Partnership for National Unity), through former Finance Minister Carl Greenidge, as the main architect, was responsible for the destruction of the private sector, the economy and the entire nation. Today, under the leadership of David Granger, the Opposition advances another phase of its agenda to destroy our beautiful country,” President Ramotar asserted.
He made it clear that in exposing Guyana’s financial sector to hardships, the Opposition exposes all Guyanese to hardships, as well.
President Ramotar also underscored the fact that Government has honoured each agreement made with the Opposition parties and both engaged at every level and made compromises in the interest of advancing the business of the people.
“We are the only ones who have been constantly making all the compromises. The Opposition has made no compromise,” he claimed.
Yet, Ramotar pledged that his Government will remain committed to do all it possibly can to represent the interest of the Guyanese people.
As he put it: “From the beginning, the Opposition displayed an authoritarian behaviour in Parliament and it permeated into every realm of their activities.
“The arbitrary use of the one-seat majority in the Parliament convinces us that APNU and AFC have no regard for Guyanese and the well-being of our society.
“From the inception of the commencement of the 10th Parliament, the Opposition breached the Constitution, Parliamentary norms, conventions and principles, when it grabbed the Speaker and Deputy Speaker positions and took control of all the Parliamentary Committees, illegally instituted budget cuts, ditched the hopes of Guyanese for cheaper electricity by killing the Amaila Falls project and now exposes Guyanese to severe consequences with their non-support of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill.”
The President complained that the actions of the joint Opposition seem to be a “deliberate attempt” to harm the social and economic well-being of the Guyanese people.
Responding to claims by APNU that the AML/CFT’s non-enactment is a failure on the Government’s part, he said that the main Opposition seems to be looking for a “fig leaf” under which to cover.
“This matter has been with the Parliament for six months,” he pointed out.
President Ramotar gave the assurance that he will execute his constitutional responsibilities to the Guyanese people.

(By Vanessa Narine)