– Gov’t thanks citizens, civil society bodies, business community, labour movement, diplomatic community, OAS, CARICOM and others for their publicly lent support to what were and continue to be ‘unique and unprecedented circumstances’
THE France-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has agreed that Guyana should be reviewed again in another three months on the crucially important Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Bill, which has won widespread support from almost everyone, except from the parliamentary Opposition parties.

In a much anticipated statement to the media yesterday, the Government of Guyana said it has been advised that the FATF Plenary members, during their meeting on Thursday February 13, 2014 accepted the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) (ICRG) recommendation that Guyana, et al, be reviewed subsequent to the CFATF next Plenary’s decision in May of 2014.
The Government noted that this is the substance of the CFATF public statement made in November 2013 when the National Assembly defeated the Government’s AML/CFT Amendment Bill No.12 2013 on November 7, 2013.
The Government said it wishes to go on record to “thank” Guyanese citizens, civil society bodies with particular reference to the business community and their organisations, the labour movement, the diplomatic community, the Organization of American States and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and all who publicly lent support to the Government’s efforts in what were and continue to be “unique and unprecedented circumstances.”

The Government is also once again calling on the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) leaders that the AML/CFT Amendment Bill must be passed in the National Assembly as urgently as possible before the end of this month.
Following is the full text of the statement issued yesterday by the Government of Guyana:

THE Government of Guyana has been advised that the FATF Plenary members yesterday (Thursday) February 13, 2014 accepted the CFATF (ICRG) recommendation that Guyana et al be reviewed subsequent to the CFATF next Plenary’s decision in May of 2014. This is the substance of the CFATF Public Statement made in November 2013 when the National Assembly defeated the Government’s AMLCFT Amendment Bill No.12 2013 on November 7, 2013 .3n.
The Government is advised that neither the FATF nor the CFATF will be issuing any Statements emanating from the Paris meeting on Guyana. The decisions of the 2013 November CFATF meeting and plan of action remain unchanged.

Further, Guyana has to file a report by February 28, 2014 to the CFATF for their review and report to Plenary members in May 2014. This report will include Guyana’s plan of action to correct its deficiencies as part of the ongoing process. Guyana is expected to attach to that report the conclusions on the AMLCFT Amendment Bill No. 22, 2013 which is before the Parliamentary Special Select Committee and a copy of the said enacted Bill to be analysed, correlated to the deficiencies to provide the report to Plenary in May, 2014. Between February and May it is expected that there will be dialogue and discussions with CFATF with regard to the preparation of the report for the CFATF Plenary.

If the May Plenary is dissatisfied with Guyana’s progress, the 2013 November Statement already provides the decision for the country’s referral to FATF which is meeting in June 2014.

The Government wishes to go on record to thank Guyanese citizens, civil society bodies with particular reference to the business community and their organizations, the labour movement, the diplomatic community, the Organization of American States and the CARICOM, all who publicly lent support to the Government of Guyana’s efforts in what were and continue to be “unique and unprecedented circumstances.”

The Government calls once again on the APNU and AFC leaders that the AML/CFT Amendment Bill 22, 2013 must be passed in the National Assembly as urgently as possible before the end of February, 2014.