–PPP/C GS, Clement Rohee
THE General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Mr Clement Rohee, has declared that the people of Guyana have clearly adopted a unified, positive stance in regard to passage of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Bill, after the Government had held countrywide consultations on its contents and the importance of its passage.And he stressed that the people have spoken loud and clear in declaring their position on the passage of this critically important piece of legislation.

At a PPP/C press conference held at Freedom House on Robb Street, Rohee told the media that the engagements — that most recent of which was held at the Guyana International Conference Centre last week — demonstrated the people’s understanding of the issue at hand, and their awareness of the dire consequences attending the bill’s non-passage.

He said, “We saw our people speak directly to the Opposition, many of whom would have voted for them, calling upon them to support this bill, and informing them that they were placed in the Parliament upon the people’s vote to act in their best interest, and not to play puerile political games and using the people’s vote to blackmail them.

“We heard of the citizens’ direct and consistent rejection of the Opposition’s amendments, as well as the conditions which they are demanding as a tradeoff for their support of this bill…. It was a remarkable experience simply listening to the views of the people, expressed on television or reading about them in the newspapers.

“We view this engagement as another step in the advancement of the democratic process in our nation,” Rohee said.

Guyana has witnessed the best demonstration of the Dr. Cheddi Jagan vow in his first address as President of the Republic to the National Assembly — to take the Parliament to the people, so they could have a direct input in the parliamentary process, Rohee said.

“The people have spoken. Their message was loud, clear and simple: Pass the AML/CFT Bill tabled by the Government in the National Assembly now! They have put the ball squarely in the court of the Opposition. Let us see if the Opposition will once again ignore the voices of the people,” Rohee declared.

REAL CONCERNS
Rohee pointed out that the concerns of the people are real, and must not be treated lightly; particularly since some have already reported encountering difficulties due to the delay in passage of the AML/CFT Bill.

Rohee said, “A woman from Anna Regina explained the delay she faced to bury her dead husband because her remittance for the funeral was delayed at the money transfer agency. A gentleman from Greenwich Park, who claimed he voted for APNU, asked Mr. David Granger directly on camera why is it that he wants to punish his supporters. A resident of Bartica voiced the opinion that hundreds of Barticians will become criminals, and their cash and gold seized, if the Opposition’s amendments are enacted.

“The people of Linden expressed fear that the foreign investors in the Bauxite industry will close operations, and Region 10 residents will return to a state of joblessness if this bill is not passed. The residents of Lusignan and Mahaica demanded mass protests and fresh elections. One comrade from Helena, Mahaica, said that under the PNC Government he walked the streets barefoot. Today he wears Nike sneakers, which he displayed for the camera, vowing that he will never walk barefoot again.

“The people of New Amsterdam, many of whom voted for the Opposition, called for the madness to end and the bill to be passed. The young man from Albuoystown articulated great consternation, at the International Convention Centre, with the constant obstructionist approach of the Opposition on matters of national interest.

“The rice farmers questioned, on camera, how the Opposition Parliamentarians expect them to acquire fertiliser, machinery and spares, when all these can only be obtained from overseas, and the non-passage of this bill will stifle international trade between Guyana and every other country in the hemisphere.”
These stories, he contended, are the stories of real Guyanese people with genuine concerns.

He added that the Government will continue its awareness effort, to ensure that the people are apprised on the “unreasonable and unprincipled position” of the joint opposition, as they continue to withhold their support of the passage of the AML/CFT Bill.
By Vanessa Narine