Rohee warns revolt can follow Guyana blacklisting

GENERAL Secretary of the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Mr. Clement Rohee, yesterday questioned the political agenda of the combined Opposition behind the non-enactment the critically important Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) (Amendment) Bill.

He noted the possibility of “revolt” among Guyanese citizens who are the ones who will feel the squeeze of the international blacklisting of Guyana.
“I don’t know if this (revolt) is what the Opposition is hoping for, that we will have social turmoil in the country and that will make the Government unpopular. Maybe that is the game plan. I don’t think the country will benefit as a result of that. This will throw us back many, many years, and I hope this is not the game plan of the Opposition,” Rohee said at his weekly press conference at Freedom House, Robb Street, Georgetown.
He dubbed that characterisation as an “imposition” by the combined Opposition, who, he stressed, is fully responsible for forcing economic hardship on Guyanese.
“This imposition by the Opposition is not only profoundly embarrassing to our nation; it will bring to bear untold hardships to all Guyanese. Our Party has, in the past, warned of these impending consequences. Unfortunately, the Opposition has now made the blacklisting a reality,” the Minister of Home Affairs observed.
According to him, the current situation could have been avoided had the Opposition demonstrated a sense of patriotism and concern for the people of the nation, including their own supporters.

Counter measures
The Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), in its pronouncement last Thursday, detailed the counter measures that can be taken by its members to protect their financial systems from the ongoing money laundering and terrorist financing risks emanating from Guyana.
These include the requirement of enhanced due diligence and introducing systematic reporting for financial transactions; refusing the establishment of subsidiaries or branches or representative offices in Guyana and taking into account the fact that financial institutions from Guyana that do not have adequate AML/CFT systems and limiting the business relationships or financial transactions with the country.
Rohee said: “The PPP can only conclude that the Opposition’s action is spiteful and woefully uncaring. These are the same traits that have characterised the Opposition in their quest to use the one-seat majority in the National Assembly to inflict economic hardship on all of our people.
“…it is clear that oppression, ruin and despondency are elements dear to the Opposition; elements which were the hallmark of the dictatorial regime it led prior to the return of freedom and democracy just over two decades ago.”
The General Secretary also called for the “unconditional” passage of the AML/CFT (Amendment) Bill, an endorsement of President Donald Ramotar’s position on the matter.
Rohee said:“All Guyanese must continue to demand that the Opposition pass this CFATF-compliant Bill unconditionally and not allow 33 people to hold this nation to ransom.
“They must demand that the Opposition not continue to use this Bill as a means to blackmail and curtail the unprecedented progress our nation is undergoing. Our people must demand that the Opposition put the well-being of the nation and its people first, over their partisan political interest,” he maintained.

Still calling
A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) are still calling for certain conditions to be met before they do so, with the exception of the AFC relaxing its demands a trifle.
APNU, for instance, has proposed three amendments, but, given that its proposals were viewed as problematic, the AG, on behalf of the Government, earlier this month, offered other suggestions in the interest of ensuring that the amendments made are CFATF-compliant and reaching a compromise. These are being considered by the Parliamentary Select Committee which has been reviewing the AML/CFT Bil and held its most recent meeting on May 22. The APNU maintains its position on conditional support for the Bill.
On the other hand, the AFC, which is fully behind APNU’s position, is demanding the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC), to which the Government has agreed, providing that Cabinet retains its no-objection role in the process. But the latter position has been rejected by the AFC. However, last Thursday evening, after the announcement by CFATF, the AFC, in a statement, said it is now willing to budge on its stand and support Cabinet’s retention of its no-objection.
Rohee insisted that the AML/CFT (Amendment) Bill must not be linked to anything else but considered on its own merits and demerits.
“The question of linkages is an invention, which we reject completely. It is unacceptable as a negotiating ploy,” he said.
The General Secretary pointed out that the Opposition is fully aware of the harsh consequences of international blacklisting, including economic downturn and hardships for Guyanese people.
He said:“They are aware of the mechanisms this Bill contains to combat criminal activities, including money laundering and drug trafficking.”
The enacting of the AML/CFT (Amendment) Bill before CFATF’s meeting last week, by all accounts, could have averted Guyana’s referral to CFATF, particularly since the body noted that 90 percent of the deficiencies identified are legislative in nature. The Bill to meet CFATF’s requirements was tabled in the National Assembly in April 2013 but referred to a Parliamentary Special Select Committee and was eventually voted down by the joint Opposition in November 2013.
The legislation was re-tabled in December 2013 and, again, referred to the Parliamentary Special Select Committee, where it has been since.
Rohee declared that the Opposition’s irresponsible actions are reflective of its “proclivity to have Guyanese wallow in despair as was the case when it misruled and bankrupt” the nation for almost three decades.
“Now that prosperity and freedom permeate in every facet of Guyanese society, it is clear that the Opposition is uncomfortable with the abundance of successes; hence its obsession to oppress,” he posited.

No unwillingness
Asked about the party’s position on the three political parties coming to the negotiating table, Rohee indicated that there is no unwillingness on the part of the Government to meet.
“The Government has always listened to the Opposition; the question that should be asked is if the Opposition is listening,” he remarked.
Rohee said, though, that the quintessential recognition that must be made is the impacts for the average Guyanese man, woman and child.
“We must put the nation first. We have always put the nation first in any kind of crisis that faced this country. Once you put the nation first, all other things will fall into place,” he posited.
Rohee added that the effective international blacklisting that has been imposed on Guyana and Guyanese is an “uncaring” act by the Opposition.
“What is the real reason the Opposition has refused on numerous occasions to support this Bill? Why would the Opposition remain uncaring and unconcerned over the plight Guyanese stand to encounter as a result of the impending consequences? Why would they not be concerned over the welfare of hard-working Guyanese?” he asked.
Rohee reiterated that the Opposition’s “deliberateness” in not supporting this Bill must be seen as a nexus to their partisan and anti-national interest.
“Given the Opposition’s non-support for this Bill, it becomes tremendously challenging to dismiss the notion that their actions condone such illegal and criminal activities. If that is their position, then the Opposition is obligated to tell this nation why the welfare of drug dealers and money launderers takes precedence over that of ordinary Guyanese.
“…the Opposition must be held accountable and responsible for the hardships Guyanese would be forced to endure as a result of the Bill’s non-passage. They must be held accountable and responsible for the damage inflicted on the country’s international image which our government has worked assiduously, over the years, to repair following almost three decades of embarrassment,” he charged.
Rohee assured that the ruling party will continue to work for their best interest and for the mitigation of the effects following the blacklisting of the nation.
“Our Party, which has a proud history of struggling for bettering the lives of Guyanese, will not shirk from this responsibility and would not allow the Opposition to realise its quest to return this country to backwardness and to force ruin and despondency on the people of this now free and prosperous country,” he pledged.
FATF’s next plenary meeting is slated for June 23 to 25, 2014 in Paris, France, at which time the international body is likely to put Guyana up for review by its International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG).
Pull quotes:
“All Guyanese must continue to demand that the Opposition pass this CFATF compliant Bill unconditionally and not allow 33 people to hold this nation to ransom.” – PPP General-Secretary, Clement Rohee

“I don’t know if this (revolt) is what the Opposition is hoping for, that we will have social turmoil in the country and that will make the Government unpopular. Maybe that is the game plan. I don’t think the country will benefit as a result of that. This will throw us back many, many years and I hope this is not the game plan of the Opposition.”– PPP General-Secretary, Clement Rohee

“The question of linkages (conditions for passage of the AML/CFT Bill) is an invention, which we reject completely…it is unacceptable as a negotiating ploy.” – PPP General-Secretary, Clement Rohee

(By Vanessa Narine)