– says APNU, AFC ‘determined’ to harm welfare of Guyanese

A RECENT meeting between the leader of the main Opposition, Brigadier (rtd) David Granger, and President Donald Ramotar, did not address the critically important Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) (Amendment) Bill. At a news conference last Friday, the Head of State said, “What we are facing is largely because we have not passed the Anti-Money Laundering Bill…the Opposition continues its determination to put our people in harm’s way, to damage the welfare of our people.”
The Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) draft report on Guyana’s compliance with international standards, relative to its anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism framework, will be completed before the end of the month.

“We are working very hard to stave off blacklisting of our country and save our people from hardship….we are working extremely hard…we hope we will be able to avoid blacklisting.” – President Donald Ramotar

In a letter dated July 9, 2014, FATF officially confirmed its decision to commence a targeted review of Guyana prior to its October 2014 plenary meeting; and the international watchdog body made it clear that the purpose of that targeted review would be to examine the most significant deficiencies in Guyana’s AML/CFT framework that pose a risk to the international financial system.The letter also indicated that Guyana would be given an opportunity to review the draft targeted review, and to have a face-to-face meeting with the Americas Regional Review Group (ARRG), which is expected to happen some time in September.
The President maintains that the combined Opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), seem determined to have Guyana blacklisted. “They seem determined to get the country blacklisted. This is a very unpatriotic position to take,” he said.

WORK CONTINUES
Despite this, Mr. Ramotar highlighted that work in areas where the passage of legislation is not required, continues apace.
He said, “We have been working to do what we can…we are putting in place all the measures that do not require legislation.”
According to him, a work plan has been developed and to date, guidelines and regulations have been issued to assist in the improvement of Guyana’s anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism framework.
The Head of State said, “We have developed a workplan taking into account the unpredictable role, or should I say predicable role of the Parliament, or the obstructionist role they have taken in this regard. In carrying out this plan we have issued guidelines and are developing regulations to deal administratively with many of the matters we could not get addressed.”
Mr. Ramotar added that efforts have also been advanced relative to the establishment of the operational arm of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).
“We have moved to establish the operational arm of the FIU, the SOCU…a building for SOCU has been identified,” he said.
SOCU was set up in response to a recommendation from the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) for Guyana to intensify its investigations and prosecutions of money- laundering offences. Last Wednesday, Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon, disclosed that Cabinet gave its no-objection to a $63.1M contract for the work on SOCU’s building.
Additionally, the President expressed his appreciation to Guyana’s foreign partners for their support in ensuring that Guyana takes the measures it has to in order to remain compliant with international standards.

NO MEETINGS
Mr. Ramotar also addressed the issue of the non-convening of the Parliamentary Special Select Committee reviewing the AML/CFT (Amendment) Bill.
The Committee has not met since June. The last notice from the Chairperson of the Committee, Ms. Gail Teixeira had indicated that a meeting is scheduled for October 10, but it remains to be seen whether or not the combined Opposition members on the committee will attend.
“Attempts were made to narrow any kind of position to come up with a CFATF and FATF compliant Bill…those efforts were rejected,” the President said.
The last suggested dates for meetings of the Committee were July 8, 10 and 30, all three of which were rejected on the basis on the unavailability of opposition members sitting on the committee.
Until the Committee meets the AML/CFT (Amendment) Bill will remain in limbo.
FATF has said that its review will identify steps that should be taken to address those deficiencies through the development of an action plan.The international watchdog’s letter had said: “This review will be conducted by the International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG), Americas Regional Review Group (ARRG), co-chaired by Ms. Darlene Boileau (Canada) and Ms. Maria Fernanda Garcia-Yrigoyen Maúrtua (Peru). In our capacity as ICRG Co-Chairs, we now request your full cooperation I n assisting the ARRG to conduct this work, including by providing up-to-date information on your jurisdiction related to AML and CFT issues, as requested by the ARRG co-chairs.”
“We are working very hard to stave off blacklisting of our country and save our people from hardship….we are working extremely hard…we hope we will be able to avoid blacklisting,” the Head of State stressed.
At its next meeting, between October 20/24, 2014 in Paris, France, the FATF is expected to discuss the results of Guyana’s targeted review.

(By Vanessa Narine )