Written by Nadine Sanchara
AS Parliament prepares to reconvene sittings of the National Assembly following a two-month hiatus, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) urges the combined opposition to support the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLCFT) Bill, which is currently before a Special Select Committee in the National Assembly.This call was made Monday during a PPP press conference at Freedom House on Robb Street, Georgetown, when PPP General Secretary and Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee reminded that this is Guyana’s last chance to avoid worldwide sanctions being imposed against commerce in and emanating from Guyana.

He noted that the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) has already prepared a draft report on Guyana, which will be adopted at its Plenary Meeting, scheduled to be held on November 18 in the Bahamas. This draft report, he said, concludes that Guyana has not implemented the requisite recommendations, and that the Guyana AMLCTF Bill embodying those recommendations is still languishing in the Guyana Parliament.
“The report therefore declares Guyana to be a non-compliant jurisdiction, and invites countries to take such counter-measures which they deem necessary to protect themselves from the money laundering and terrorism risks which Guyana poses,” he stated.
Rohee explained that unless the bill in Parliament is passed before November 18, Guyana will be unable to prevent that draft report from being adopted.
He stressed that, should the draft report be adopted, the consequences would be dire and draconian on the Guyanese economy. “Indeed, every facet of life will be affected as a result. The opposition must be held responsible if these horrendous consequences materialise,” he said.
The call for opposition support of the AMLCTF Bill was made as Rohee urged the opposition to “cease their modus operandi of the last two years of trivialising the National Assembly to a forum for executing petty political vendettas, engaging in political horse trading, committing unconstitutional wrongs, and embarking on a whole host of ego-inspired endeavours.”
He emphasised that the PPP hopes the Parliamentary opposition, in this session of Parliament, would adopt positions that would render paramount the welfare of Guyana and every Guyanese; and further, that they would conduct themselves in the manner contemplated by the Constitution, and would abide by universal Parliamentary and democratic practices and traditions.
Moreover, he said the hope hopes that the opposition would move away from actions such as withholding their support for pivotal crime-fighting and other legislation, which are not only important for the Guyanese people, but are imperative for Guyana to discharge its international obligations.
“We hope that the persecution of government ministers by way of unlawful and unconstitutional motions of no-confidence will not reccur, that national developmental projects will be supported, and that the unconstitutional and inexplicable cutting of National Budgets will cease,” Rohee declared.
Further, the minister said his party also expects that the “unconstitutional, undemocratic and anti-nationalistic” postures and practices taken by the opposition will be replaced with constructive engagements and dialogue, and that they will put forward an alternative plan for the development of Guyana.
“We note that, in all the shenanigans committed over the last two years in the National Assembly, the Opposition has failed to bring forth a singular proposal, in any form or fashion, which will redound to the benefit of Guyana or our citizens,” Rohee lamented.