GUYANA was examined at the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) meeting on May 27 in Nicaragua, as was expected,and according to Attorney General

and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, who led Guyana’s delegation with the mandate to seek an extension to the deadline for meeting the Taskforce’s recommendations in implementing the anti-money laundering legislation, the local delegation reported the country’s position and what has to be done to effect the recommendations which have been made.

In reporting to the media yesterday on Guyana’s mission, he said, “the people who are doing this assessment…they have very little time for the little political games we are playing here. They have a very strict regime that they use, you either meet the deadline or you don’t meet the deadline. If you have not met the deadline, why haven’t you met the deadline? If they believe that you have demonstrated bona fides and commitment, they give you a second chance. If you don’t meet the deadline on the second occasion, that’s it! They are absolutely unconcerned about what is going on in Guyana’s Parliament and who believes there is a constitutional crisis and who wants a procurement commission…they couldn’t  care less about these things…they have a task to perform, they have certain criteria that have to be met and if you don’t meet them, then you face the consequences. They are very unattached to the political ramifications and nuances which are taking place in Guyana. ”
The team outlined progress made outside of the legislative changes, the minister reported. “This included the hiring of additional staff; the establishment of supervisory authorities, to supervise and monitor the activities of all money transfer agencies, financial institutions, credit unions, and all the other agencies which they had recommended.”
In addition, the CFATF, in their own report, said that 90% or more of the recommendations which they have made are of a legislative nature. Guyana in turn submitted to the Taskforce that the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLCFT) Bill captures these.
CFATF agreed that the bill does capture the recommendations, about 90% of them Minister Nandlall said, and added that the CFATF was also told that the bill has been laid in the National Assembly.
“We explained of course the configuration of the National Assembly and that the government does not enjoy the majority…that a motion was moved from the floor by the Opposition that the matter be sent to select committee. We explained of course that the government objected to it, explaining the exigencies of the time constraints that we are under in relation to this matter. Notwithstanding our best pleas, a vote was taken from the floor and the matter was referred to select committee. At the select committee, of course, we outlined the government’s every effort in the committee to expedite the hearing and we explained why the hearings of the select committee were not concluded before the deadline date.”
The minister said that the Guyana team also outlined the Opposition’s several requests, which were conceded to, because they involved provision of documents etc., but they wanted public hearings and they wanted submissions to come from members of the public and interested stakeholders.
“We renewed and restated the government’s absolute commitment to ensure that this legislation is passed in keeping with the recommendations, but that we are however, basically at the mercy of the Opposition because they control the National Assembly. As a result, they appreciated government’s effort thus far, and the progress made, and they said that they are giving us until the November meeting to get that done,” Minister Nandlall stated.
He emphasized, however, that in this regard, “it doesn’t mean that we have to wait until November. We have to get this thing completed for the November meeting, and a period of time has to be given for them to examine the legislation to see that it conforms to the recommendations. Of course, I am aware of an impending Parliamentary recess which is to take place in mid-August for nearly a month that will take us way into September. I hope we can complete the consideration of this Bill and have it passed by the National Assembly before Parliament goes into recess so that we have sufficient time to send it to them so that it can be assessed,” he said.
He explained that Dominica and Belize were both granted extensions until the June meeting; Dominica, because their legislation was passed late, and Belize because that country had just had national elections.
Dominica, the AG said, was not removed from consideration, because the CAFTF said very clearly that they needed time to assess the BILL to see that Dominica has conformed.
“This point demonstrates that we have to do it within sufficient time, that we don’t lay back and wait until November, that we begin to work as early as possible and have it concluded before Parliament goes into recess,” Minister Nandlall said.
Aghast
Regarding the Alliance for Change’s (AFC’s) call for a report on the Nicaragua meeting, the AG said, “I am reporting here, if the AFC wants more information, I guess they would write and ask. I don’t know what more information they would want,” the minister stated.
He added, “The Leader of the Opposition wrote to the Managua meeting, and I observed that he didn’t give a commitment. Though he says that the Opposition appreciates the importance of effecting the amendments, he didn’t say that the Opposition is committed to have it passed within the time frame. He went on to deal with a host of other issues, most of which are irrelevant to the passage of the legislation. He speaks of compromises and other areas which are wholly unconnected with it.”
Minister Nandlall explained that many persons to whom he spoke privately at the meeting “were aghast and absolutely shocked that the opposition is taking the position that they are taking in Guyana. No one can really fathom how such an important issue can be made to be a political issue when it is the national interest that is involved; there are many other issues which you can play politics with. The meeting itself was quite surprised that the Opposition in the Guyanese Parliament is taking the position which it has taken.” (GINA)