TOMORROW is D-Day for the passage of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Bill. If the Bill is not passed then, the consequences will submerge Guyana’s social development and economic growth almost right back to the subterranean levels of PNC (non) developmental paradigm; and every Guyanese, even supporters of the PNC/AFC/APNU coalition would begin to inexorably, gradually lose all the gains they have made in the upward trajectory of their lives and livings under the PPP/C Government administration. But one wonders why, despite all the adjurations, the pleas, the looming threat to the nation, the joint opposition remains adamant and inflexible in its non-support of this vital bill; or is there going to be a last-minute change of mind as a result of the relentless pillorying they have been receiving from all stakeholders in the land? If not, one wonders whose vested interests they are protecting.

The Kaieteur news article attributing comments to Joseph Harmon, M.P., in relation to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Bill has its genesis in the PNC’s well-documented forays in the grey and even black areas of the criminal underworld; and a plethora of evidence exists to validate this observation. However, a picture of its elections candidate with a bucket at the government gas station as Regent Street and the businesses, lives and livelihoods of hundreds of Guyanese went up in flames; PNC parliamentarian Abdul Kadir – guns strapped all over his body now serving time in a US prison for terrorist activities; and former PNC President Desmond Hoyte presiding over the funeral of that party’s hero, Linden “Blackie” London – notorious thief, rapist and murder will suffice for the purposes of this editorial. To document their activities in this sphere of their political history will take volumes that will fill Parliament Building.

Individually and collectively members of the joint opposition together have a formidable reputation for lawless transactions, positions, and actions, and the primary one of extant times is their constant contempt of the rulings of Guyana’s courts, presided over and adjudicated by Chief Justice, Ian Chang, mainly anent their relentless cutting of the nation’s annual budgetary allocations, which does not fall within their mandated rights or responsibilities, according to the laws of the land, which they continue to flout with impunity.

In Guyanese parlance “When a dog is accustomed to suck eggs it cannot stop”, so forays in criminal activities is accelerating in these quarters; and so one can understand their intractable position of non-support of the AML/CFT BILL, with all its implications for this country – the welfare of which has never been of primary consideration for them anyway.

I quote from a letter sent by a member of the public to the Chronicle: “Fearful of the consequences of its own non-support for the Bill, the opposition is being driven to all sorts of machinations. Harmon, by his public utterances, has introduced the possibility of PNC/APNU utilising its well-established brand of violence and intimidation as desperation mounts on its part.

“The stinging condemnation by a majority of Guyanese over APNU/AFC’s non-support for the passage of this a Bill is indeed having a negative impact on the psyche of the opposition.

“The territory of violence, criminality and intimidation rightly belongs to the PNC/APNU as history would have recorded repeated episodes of violent incidents under that party’s directorship, as recent as the Linden (and Agricola) unrest in 2012.” Here could be added, latterly in equal partnership with the AFC.

The letter-writer concluded “Could it be that the opposition is using Harmon to signal those in its rank and file to be the first to instigate violence as the means of diverting attention from the opposition gloom and doom blow moment?”

Joe Harmon’s contentions have of course been given full prominence in the infamous ‘Kaieteur News’, and one need not wonder at the vindictive, anti-government slant of reporting that tabloid practices, because the Editor-in-Chief was born out of the belly of the PNC beast as editor of the PNC organ, the ‘New Nation’, and that has not changed, despite the name and ownership of the new PNC organ, with absolute support also for the partners in the APNU/AFC configuration.
The opposition cabal, including some media houses, continually attack the President and other government functionaries on misrepresentation and/or distortion of facts, and even outright lies; which Adam Harris – challenged by Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, admitted on Channel 11 during a live debate on corruption; but if they refute the allegations levelled against them, no matter how blatantly untrue, then those very media houses and opposition elements cry foul, denying the President and others within the administration their fundamental and inalienable constitutional rights to freedom of expression, which are guaranteed to every citizen in the land, which the opposition collective and their satellites in and out of the media practice in full measure.
The progress and level of development in Guyana under the PPP/C watch has been phenomenal, superseding in some instances achievements by even some first world economies; and currently the humane President of the most powerful nation on earth is fighting for what little Guyana has long achieved – free healthcare for its citizens.

Despite the downsizing of the world’s economy, the crisis has scarcely affected our nation, except for the prices being offered for some of our exports.
This is as a result of good macro-economic fundamentals, with a stable inflation rate.
The Executive Directors of the IMF noted in a report that, despite external shocks and social pressures, the Guyanese authorities have maintained macroeconomic stability in 2008 through the implementation of prudent fiscal and monetary policies.
Subsequent reports by various world bodies have reiterated this; and regionally Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves called Guyana “The only shining star of the Caribbean; but bit by bit, through its parliamentary and extra-parliamentary shenanigans, that star is being slowly but surely dimmed; with the looming threat of a total eclipse if the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Bill is not passed.

But the nitpicking continues; and in the interest of this nation this stone-throwing and spiteful stonewalling of developmental configurations and projects must stop and all must show genuine commitment to collaborative endeavour toward nation-building. It is the only way we will survive.

Former Private Sector head Gerry Gouveia has said: “We are all in this boat together. We fought for independence and we got it. It is no longer them and us. It is we, together.

“We have to learn the art of agreeing to disagree without burning down the house, the art of compromise and, particularly, the art of really working together in good faith always in the interest of Guyana.”
Passage of the vital bill to prevent Guyana from being blacklisted at world fora is imperative and should receive the support of all the lawmakers of the land – in the interest of Guyana; or else non-support begs the question: Is the opposition protecting the vested interests of and/or receiving support from drug cartels, criminals, terrorists and money launderers?