ONE can almost feel the national thermometer rise, as the countdown to another opportunity to legislate the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill beckons. In fact, Guyana’s fate rests, on the crucial weekend meeting between A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) and government members as part of the Select Committee deliberations on what should be tying up the loose ends of the proposals, thus readying the Bill for the next sitting of the National Assembly. All Guyanese want the parliamentary opposition to support this Bill, for what it means for their and country’s welfare. This is crunch time, because all the “dithering’, as the GMSCA President asserts, all the pussyfooting, brinkmanship, and power play must now end, for the sole purpose of safeguarding the national integrity, the wellbeing of our citizens and the continued advancement of the nation’s socio-economic development.

It is this crucial meeting that will determine whether both sets of opposition members who sit in Parliament, understand what the national interest is about, and are truly patriotic, caring about their fellow Guyanese. OBSERVER admits that there is still opposition intransigence to the passage of this legislation, which only purpose is to protect the economic gains of the nation from criminal intrusion.
But there must be no more postponement of this Bill’s legislation, for there is nothing further that needs to be debated, except to return it to the House for its inevitable passage that will ensure Guyana’s self-respect and credibility.
The opposition must bear in mind, that to be associated with, and because of, one’s country’s economic dissolution is akin to one of the greatest acts of national betrayal. Such must not be its historical legacy in the final chapter on its role in this particular issue.
Let it be written, that it stood tall in defence of its country’s and citizens’ best interests, at its hour of need, and that its nationalistic love won the day. No more or less is asked, or demanded of our parliamentary opposition parties.