THE Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Limited has issued a call for Members of Parliament to desist from employing political grandstanding in negotiating the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Bill.Yesterday, the body issued a statement declaring its disappointment with the position taken by the main Opposition coalition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), on the presence of private sector stakeholders as observes of the deliberations of the Parliamentary Special Select Committee.

The GCCI statement said in part: “The Chamber notes with deep disappointment the position adopted…. The Private Sector Commission is the second civil society stakeholder, after the media, to have been refused access to the Committee’s meetings.”

NOT SENSITIVE
The Chamber said the issues to be deliberated on the AML/CFT Bill do not constitute “sensitive information” that would require secrecy by the Committee. It said, “During meetings with both Government and the APNU, the lament from both sides was to cast blame on the other for not attending meetings or adhering to appropriate procedures of the Select Committee.

“At those meetings, the Private Sector delegation received assurances from all parliamentary parties that they would welcome public screenings and observations of the Select Committee deliberations on the said bill. It is therefore surprising and discouraging that the APNU has deviated from this position.”

The CCCI added that public access to parliamentary committees is an important part of Government transparency, and expressed hope that the APNU would reconsider its position.

The statement said, “…(the Chamber is) hopeful that the APNU would rethink its position and re-engage in the deliberations, and allow for a vote on public access by the Committee members.

“The AML/CFT Bill is too important to our nation’s economy and development to have partisan and petty political tactics and grandstanding affect its consideration, augmentation and eventual passage.”

The AML/CFT Bill was returned to the Committee, where it spent six months before being defeated by the combined Opposition in a National Assembly vote, but it is currently being reviewed.

Last Monday, APNU members walked out of a meeting of the Committee to avoid a vote on allowing private sector stakeholders to be present. The Private Sector Commission (PSC) had submitted a letter to the sub-committee requesting to observe the meetings as stakeholders. However, on Monday evening, when Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh moved the motion to have the PSC attend the meetings, the Opposition objected.
Serious impending deadlines demand urgent action on this critical piece of legislation; or Guyana, which has already been blacklisted regionally, could face international sanctions.
Written By Vanessa Narine