THE continued effort by members of the opposition to stymie progress and development in Guyana is very alarming. The combined opposition should focus on the national good and should cease the practice of a one-vote dictatorship in the Parliament. Upon examination and reflecting on a number of actions on their part, it is evident that their interest is not for the collective good of Guyana and the Guyanese people.

The most recent refusal to support the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill is a classic case of wherein lies their interest. If this amendment is not passed Guyana will be placed on a list of non-confirming countries and would be faced with sanctions and restrictions that would affect doing business internationally.

Yet the AFC gleefully announced that they would not be supporting the passage of this amendment because the President exercised his constitutional right not to assent to two opposition bills. They are not rejecting the bill based on its content or reasons but rather solely because they want to hold the President of Guyana at ransom.

One cannot help but question in whose interest is the AFC acting. How would such a decision benefit the Guyanese people? Perhaps this is yet another effort to look out for the interest of their supporters and constituent. After all, stronger money laundering legislation would affect the drug trade and persons who are engaged in illicit activities.

This is not the first time that the AFC has placed its partisan interest in front the citizens of this country. According to OXFAM International, one person dies worldwide every minute as a result of armed violence. To address this problem there are efforts to endorse a treaty curbing the illegal trade in arms and ammunition – an Arms Trade Treaty. Countries are required to enact/amend their legislation to be in harmony with the treaty.

Yet when the Amendment to the Firearms Act was recently laid in the National Assembly in Guyana, the opposition voted against this important legislation that is aimed at stemming and controlling the flow of firearms into Guyana. They claimed that their refusal to support the amendment was because Home Affairs Minister, Mr. Clement Rohee, tabled it. This was after both the court and speaker of the National Assembly ruled that the minister had a right to speak.

They claimed that their vote against the bill was because Minister Rohee was not fit to lead the security sector. Yet a few weeks later they sat in the same Parliament and debate and questioned Minister Rohee on Budget 2013.

We cannot help but question the true motive of their denunciation of the Firearms (Amendment) Act.  Perhaps, refusal to submit the gun controls is in their interest?  Was this an avenue for their more far fletched strategy of defending and supporting illicit activities?

We can recall that when Mr. Ramjattan was a member of the PPP, on numerous occasions, leaders of that party had to caution him on who he represents in court and the impact of defending certain categories of accused persons on the image of the party.

The people of Guyana, especially the young people who are the most vulnerable to the nature of activities that the AFC is protecting and promoting, should be reminded that these are not the only time when their self interest were placed above the national good.

Although the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana and other main players of the Tourism Sector endorse the Marriot Hotel Project because of the importance of a branded hotel for the development of the sector, the AFC continues to be critical because one of their main financiers is in the hotel business. The owner of the Pegasus had publicly endorsed the AFC via a full-page advertisement in the newspapers just before the 2011 elections and Mr. Ramjattan and company cannot seem to separate personal interest from national interest.

Another case in point is the recent vote in parliament to reduce the allocation for the specialty hospital to $0. Mr. Ramjattan and the AFC do not seem to understand that the Guyanese people can see beyond the terrible conflict of interest in their actions and decisions. One of the failed bidders for the Specialty hospital project is Mr. Ramjattan’s client.

Law abiding citizens should reject the careless, selfish, and lawless behaviour of the opposition in their refusal to support critical projects that are of national security, economic and health importance to this nation.