WE need to grasp very quickly the gravity of what the Opposition is all about – it intends to sink Guyana. As pointed out by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, the Opposition never intended to facilitate the passage of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLCFT) (Amendment) Bill. Just look how things turned out recently, when time was running out.

First “Government was prepared to cede to the Opposition and agree to enact all their amendments, which were proposed in the Special Select Committee.” Yet this offer was rejected by the Opposition Leader, David Granger. Then Government also tried, via the process of the Special Select Committee to ensure the passage of the Bill, and this too proved futile. The public needs to know that, additionally, Chairperson of the Select Committee, Gail Teixeira desperately attempted to convene a meeting before June 19, 2014 sitting of the National Assembly; this too was in vain. This is like ‘enough is enough’ but still Government went that ‘extra mile.’ This was when the President invited the Leader of the Opposition to meet and they did met at 17:00hrs on Wednesday June 18, 2014. However, what played out there was most disgraceful.
The President reached out to the Leader of the Opposition, indicating that “… Government was prepared to enact and that he (Head of State) will assent immediately to a Bill, which contains the Opposition’s proposals…” but even this was rejected. This is plain old-fashioned ‘devilry’ right here; the Opposition is getting exactly what it wants, and it is rebelling.
The Opposition is hell-bent on taking Guyana back to the pre-1992 dark era, when Guyana was scorned by almost every other nation, money was scarce, cost of living was exorbitant, food was hardly to be had, and tyranny was most rampant. As much as people are condemning the Opposition and even though there is pressure on it to amend its ways, it is most determined to bring Guyana to decline.
I call on the good people of Guyana to recall where Guyana was and where it is now headed. For those who are faithful to the Opposition all because of some foolish sentiment, it is time to be sober and rational. The Opposition must be de-clawed and de-toothed. This means that people must cast the ballots against it; for now, they must be outspoken and must condemn David Granger and his pals for what they are doing.
As testimony to the wickedness of the Opposition, it was forced to withdraw its own Broadcast (Amendment) Bill. I have to ask this Opposition if its members have a clue what they are doing? Or are they just opposing to make trouble?

BRIAN AZORE