GENERAL SECRETARY of the People’s Progressive Party, Mr. Clement Rohee, yesterday took a swing at the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. David Granger, over what he termed the “ludicrous notion” that narco-trafficking is the engine of growth that is driving the country’s economy.”

Rohee said: “Mr. Granger must cease twisting the facts and seek treatment for his blurred vision of the Guyanese reality….Perhaps Mr. Granger, in his self-righteousness, may want to contemplate foregoing his parliamentary salary or the budgetary allocation to his Opposition Leader Office, as these may be contaminated.”

Rohee said that neither Granger, the coalition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), APNU senior member Joseph Harmon, nor anyone in the “APNU outfit” has the moral or ethical authority to lecture the nation about challenges to fight drug trafficking and money laundering.

“They themselves, together with the AFC (Alliance For Change), have blocked every effort on the part of the Government’s law enforcement efforts in general and the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) (Amendment) Bill in particular,” he said.

A GLOBAL PROBLEM
Rohee said the fight against narco-trafficking is a “global problem” that is being tackled by countries at a national level.

“The fact is that the Government promotes fighting the illicit drug trade as an important national security objective, and has continued to vigorously develop and implement national counter-narcotics policies to avert the negative effect on the nation and its citizens,” he said.

The PPP General Secretary, who is also the country’s Home Affairs Minister, pointed out that among the measures to tackle the drug problem are the legislative moves, the strengthened border surveillance, and the strengthened cooperation with neighbouring countries.

Moreover, he said, emphasis is also being placed on networking with countries in an effort that is guided by international frameworks.

Rohee said: “Government adopts the legal, strategic, organisational, and budgetary frameworks necessary to respond to drug-related problems, while national drug legislation programmes and plans provide a framework for coordinated action.

“Together, these elements are crafted to make our national drug control policies work in the overall context provided by the international control system, built on three related United Nations’ Conventions that are designed to counter drug trafficking.

“Even the usually critical USA State Department International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), in its 2014 report on Guyana, states: ‘As a matter of policy, the Government of Guyana does not encourage or facilitate the illicit production or distribution of narcotic or psychotropic drugs or other controlled substances, or the laundering of proceeds from illegal drug transactions,’” he said.

He stated that the report further describes Guyana as an active partner in the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), a security partnership between the United States and Caribbean nations that seeks to substantially reduce illicit trafficking, advance public safety and citizens’ security, and promote social justice.

“Efforts to increase law enforcement capabilities, protect borders and ports, strengthen workforce development, and promote anti-money laundering effectiveness directly address priority concerns shared by Guyana and the United States,” Rohee said.

ANTI-GOVERNMENT THRUST
Rohee also flayed the APNU Leader for making comments that are “deliberately scandalous and deceptive,” and reflect an anti-government thrust that is nothing but harmful for the country.

He said, “The thrust of Mr. Granger’s typical anti-Government and most absurd statement is to establish the erroneous notion that Guyana is a country where the drug trade has reached every section of society, and that drug money is responsible for the successive annual economic growth that reflects a developing society.

“Granger goes on to allege that the image of Guyana as a haven for drug traffickers is growing, and that the country has essentially become a free-for-all and ‘gool’ for drug traffickers…its real aim is to discourage local and foreign investments and to put the country in a bad light.”

Rohee contends that, in “one fell swoop,” Granger has tainted every local and foreign investor in Guyana, including those who just recently commissioned a sweetie factory, the latter being a reference to owner of the Kaieteur News.
“Every small entrepreneur, every small-and larger-scale cash crop, poultry and livestock farmer, has been painted as being in either the pockets of his much-touted drug lords, gun-runners, tax evaders or money launderers, or that they are being financed as a result of these illegal activities,” Rohee said, as he stressed that the true reason for the growth of the national economy, which is responsible for the massive construction development in society, was detailed in the International Monetary Fund’s December 2013 report.

He said that the Ministry of Home Affairs’ National Drug Strategy Master Plan is expected to be released soon. Once the Master Plan has been finalised, it will be sent to the Defence Board and Cabinet for approval. The plan is expected to empower the necessary agencies to tackle the drug trade head on, and moreso to stipulate heavier penalties for those who are found culpable of trafficking narcotics. The previous Drug Master Plan expired in 2009.

Guyana is party to the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, and the Organisation of American States’ Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (OAS/CICAD); and Guyana is an active participant in the CICAD Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism (MEM), which monitors and reports on member states’ compliance with CICAD’s Hemispheric Drug Strategy and its related Plan of Action.
Written By Vanessa Narine