WHEN the PPP/C came to office following the historic October 5,

1992 elections, the then leader of the PNC and the Opposition, Mr Desmond Hoyte said the government would not last two years and he was working towards making the country ungovernable,  and began his “sloh fiah, moh fire” and “kith and Kin” campaign.
Despite the mayhem and terror that were unleashed by Hoyte and his troops, they failed to make the country ungovernable and bring down the government in two years. In fact, the government is in office for over 20 years now, winning every election since 1992. But based on the utterances and actions of the current leadership of the Opposition, it seems as if the agenda of Hoyte’s era remains the same.
In this regard, an AFC Regional Councillor wrote a letter in our last Monday’s edition, actually asserting the above and charging that the agenda of the Opposition is to achieve power by any means.
“The joint Opposition (APNU and AFC) has stepped up the ungovernable accelerator. They have moved from ‘scissoring’ projects which are vitally important for national development to blocking a bill which is so vital for our local and international trade and livelihoods.
They are wickedly bent on their ungovernable campaign started by the PNC. They want Guyanese to cease to benefit from international trade which is so vital for national development, that without it, the wheels of industry will come to a grinding halt. Also, our international image will be tarnished just like countries that are promoting and funding terrorism,” the AFC councillor charged.
If there was any doubt about the opposition’s agenda their recent stance on the Anti-money Laundering Bill has dispelled this doubt as APNU has declared publicly that it will not support it and the AFC is attempting to hold the government to ransom stating that in order for their support of the Bill the President has to give assent to two of their bills, making it pellucid that their narrow political interest is paramount to that of the national interest.
With just a few days remaining before Guyana comes up for review with respect to anti-money laundering legislation it is almost a certainty that the deadline for enacting the Bill will not be met, hence Guyana will face the likelihood of international sanctions and the ensuing adverse consequences as the AFC councilor, so eloquently, put it over.
According to Minister Irfaan Ali, 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 Ali, who has portfolio responsibility for Commerce and Industry in Guyana.
In view of these serious implications of the Bill not being passed, the PPP has correctly issued a call 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.
We have seen several organisations, including the Private Sector Commission (PSC) coming out strongly against the stance of the Opposition but they have done so from an individual standpoint. What is needed is for the PSC and all the other organisations to come together and speak as one voice in a more galvanised and concerted manner.
It is also time that the Opposition supporters and members wake up and smell the coffee and add pressure on their leaders to change course before it is too late because, in the end, sanctions will not only affect PPP supporters, but all Guyanese. This is a matter of national interest and not one of partisan or political interest.