THURSDAY March 6, 2014 will be a memorable day in my life. It was such a day when I was convinced that some people only give lip service to our National Pledge. It was a day when councillors from the Opposition (APNU and AFC) were bestowed with an opportunity to show their leaders that they can think independently when it comes to issues of national development. But they squandered that golden opportunity. It was such a day that what Mahatma Gandhi said took on a new dimension and assumed more relevance in my life. He said: ‘Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth.’ Some people love to quote this saying but when it comes to making it a part of their lives they shamelessly fall short.
Motion in Support of the AML/CFT Bill
For more than two years I have sat at the Regional Council meetings in Berbice as an AFC Councillor and I have heard councillors from the combined opposition making immense effort in airing personal issues and grievances. Their personal interests would take priority then the ‘other issues’ would follow. However, I thought that on that day they would put country first. But I was so mistaken!
On that day I moved a motion in favour of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill (AML/CFT). In my introduction in presenting this vital motion, I made reference to our National Pledge which states that we must be loyal to our country and that we must dedicate our energies towards the happiness and prosperity of our country – Guyana. I presented that motion as a loyal citizen of Guyana, as a patriot who placed my country above petty partisan politics. Being an AFC Councillor took second place on that day. I thought that if we in the Opposition can unanimously pass this motion at RDC level then our leaders in Parliament would have come to their senses. Sometimes it is necessary for the ‘bottom’ to direct the ‘top’; it should not always be the opposite. It was a matter of sending a message to our leaders, but they were unwilling to do that.
New Dispensation Needs New political Culture
What we need to understand that in a ‘new dispensation’ we need a ‘new political culture’ where our councillors and members need to be able to think independently especially when issues of paramount national interest such as the AML/CFT are at stake. Every person in the opposition knows the importance of this Bill but they are willing to sacrifice this nation in their quest for political power.
During the debate of this motion, my colleagues from the AFC were quick to point out that ‘Yusuf does not represent the views of the AFC.’ However, what is not comprehensible to them was that Yusuf represented the views of the masses and the views of many who voted for the AFC! I am proud of what I have done. It was the proudest moment of my life and will do it again and again if necessary. If the AFC leaders want to expel me I have no problem with that I have done good service to my country!
Members of the Opposition need to have the testicular appendage to think for themselves and must attack issues in an objective manner. A prime example is Moses Nagamootoo. He fully supported the President’s Pension Bill when he was a Member of Parliament of the PPP/C government but as soon as he did not get nominated as the Presidential candidate he defected to the AFC and condemned the very Bill he supported. Is this the political culture we need in this country? I have the courage to speak out against cronyism, fraud and corruption within my party without fear or inhibition. I have the courage to speak out against the anti-national developmental stance taken by the combined Opposition. Members of APNU and AFC need to act in the interest of the country even if it means incurring the wrath of their egocentric leaders.
Conclusion
I, therefore, want to reiterate my position at this time. I am extremely proud to have presented that motion in support of the AML/CFT Bill at the RDC meeting. Mahatma Gandhi said: ‘First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.’ An advice to Ramjattan: the AFC should stop piggybacking on the PNCR to achieve political relevance! Get your head out of their posterior!
By HASEEF YUSUF