MEMORIES are not too distant or blurred as to forget the former People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) response to any kind of criticism levelled against its government. Even those viewpoints that were meant to be constructive, with a view to giving good guidance to governance were met with what can be described as personal attacks, tinged with the usual brand of the well-known PPP/C vitriol.

Its response to the many United States State Department annual country reports, particularly those on narcotics, money laundering, and trafficking in persons, particularly, were constantly met with a contradictory defiance and denial that read ‘’Not in Guyana. It is not happening here!’’

We all knew the local situation pertaining to those stated areas which attracted the State Department’s annual scrutiny: Guyana became a known, thriving trans-shipment conduit for drugs, that despite the brazen denials, couriers were continuously being intercepted at the country’s main airport, and at United States’ ports of entry, with large amounts of cocaine.

Trafficking in persons (TIP) had been alive and well, a fact that was cruelly exposed through the indefatigable work by the then head of the Guyana Women Miners Organisation(GWMO), and now Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources. We even recall this minister’s heroic efforts, that attracted some hostility from the then government, because of her findings that had continued to contradict what were clearly attempts by the latter to either cover up or sweep under the carpet, a growing serious criminal menace.
As to money laundering, it was thriving, and the evidence was all around to observe.
No doubt, that the United States had not been sharing any information with the then PPP/C government. Every sensible Guyanese understood the reason that predicated such a position. The PPP/C government’s position was one of outright arrogance, and dangerous denial. There was even dogged resistance to the establishment of a local DEA office, in Guyana.

The State Department has just released another report on Guyana, that although noting the Granger-led administration’s will and cooperative efforts in combating the money- laundering scourge, has pointed out serious deficiencies, illustrating also what are definitely new methodologies in executing this serious international crime.
Unlike the then PPP/C government that sought to rubbish every US report, the Guyana government, through the Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, has accepted the criticisms, saying that he welcomed the scrutiny on what efforts have been taking place in Guyana, “…and generally I like that scrutinising eye to come from international agencies …I do support, because the recommendations they make we can use to better equip ourselves for the next year”.

Indeed, these are words of wisdom, for they are a clear recognition and acceptance that more needs to be done towards the dismantling of a criminal enterprise that continues to threaten our economy, national security, and societal morals.
Undoubtedly, the coalition government since its ascension to office, has been working assiduously to counter this menace. Its final passage of the pivotal Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill, is a tribute to its relentless efforts, after more than a decade of dangerous and deliberate stalling by the former administration.
But such a legislative landmark is being complemented by sensitisation encounters such as seminars/training for public servants, and even the judiciary for a better understanding and response to a crime that had become a part of the criminal landscape, compliments of the 23 years of PPP/C government, and inaction.

Its pervasiveness could only be matched by an equally sustained, aggressive and relentless response with back-up support from international agencies, given its global dimensions. Such a willingness from the coalition government to cooperate further with friendly countries and their agencies, bodes well for building domestic skills capacity and expertise to confront this many-headed monster. It is the only way that guarantees success.