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CABINET Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon says that many, including elements in the opposition, know no boundaries in terms of their intention to remove the PPP/C from government. “There are many who would tear down this country. They don’t care and the evidence is out there for all to see. They will destroy this country if it allows them to remove the government,” Luncheon emphasised.
Dr. Luncheon was speaking at his weekly post-Cabinet press conference at the Office of the President in Georgetown.
He noted that being a non-compliant member of the international community reflects badly on the image of Guyana, and this is so only because the opposition conspired among themselves to block the requisite legislation.
The Cabinet Secretary was referring to the need to pass the amendment to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act which is of national interest to Guyana as it stands to benefit efforts to stem corruption and money laundering.
In the meantime, the Alliance For Change has said that it would not support the amendment to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act, because the Head of State has withheld his assent to two flawed opposition bills.
Dr. Luncheon asserted, “This notion about blocking all government legislation is unbelievable. Cabinet is right. This is nothing more than a back door way to general elections. What other interpretation if the opposition is serious?”
President Donald Ramotar recently informed Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman, that he had withheld his assent from the two Opposition-led bills given that they were violative of the Constitution of Guyana and as such were null.
The Bills in question include amendments to the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act as well as the Former President’s (Benefits and other Facilities) laws.
Meanwhile, Dr. Luncheon noted that Cabinet’s contention is that linking the support for enactment of the Amendment Bill to the President’s withholding of assent has taken the nation into extreme conditions.
“At the end of the day, the opposition cannot be unaware of what are likely consequences, cannot claim that they have not been aware, and in essence, cannot shirk their responsibilities to rise above the political fray and indeed to respond as true representatives of the Guyanese people at this point,” Dr.Luncheon asserted.
“To link that to the future of Guyana and our ability to entertain good standing in the international community that is conferred by our compliance with our obligations is indeed a most reprehensible step by the opposition in parliament,” Dr. Luncheon said.
Both of the bills, he informed, have been returned to parliament. “The opposition is as aware as the administration what are now the relevant constitutional provisions that deal with bills that have failed to receive presidential assent and have been returned.
“The majority is needed to override the president’s non-assent. It is the two-thirds majority of the members, the MPs who are needed to vote to reverse, overturn, the president’s non-assent.”
It will now require approval by at least two-thirds of the 65 Members of the House before it can be returned to the president, at which point he cannot withhold assent.
With Guyana slated for international sanctions and blacklisting should the amendments not be approved by May 27, the Private Sector Commission has since added its voice to the public debate.
“Guyana presently stands at great risk of being deemed a credit risk by international financiers and becoming subject to sanctions restricting international financial transactions if we do not immediately put in place and implement the legislation required by the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), to counter money laundering and the financing of terrorism…Guyana cannot afford to be blacklisted in this manner.”
Dr. Luncheon was speaking at his weekly post-Cabinet press conference at the Office of the President in Georgetown.
He noted that being a non-compliant member of the international community reflects badly on the image of Guyana, and this is so only because the opposition conspired among themselves to block the requisite legislation.
The Cabinet Secretary was referring to the need to pass the amendment to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act which is of national interest to Guyana as it stands to benefit efforts to stem corruption and money laundering.
In the meantime, the Alliance For Change has said that it would not support the amendment to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act, because the Head of State has withheld his assent to two flawed opposition bills.
Dr. Luncheon asserted, “This notion about blocking all government legislation is unbelievable. Cabinet is right. This is nothing more than a back door way to general elections. What other interpretation if the opposition is serious?”
President Donald Ramotar recently informed Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman, that he had withheld his assent from the two Opposition-led bills given that they were violative of the Constitution of Guyana and as such were null.
The Bills in question include amendments to the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act as well as the Former President’s (Benefits and other Facilities) laws.
Meanwhile, Dr. Luncheon noted that Cabinet’s contention is that linking the support for enactment of the Amendment Bill to the President’s withholding of assent has taken the nation into extreme conditions.
“At the end of the day, the opposition cannot be unaware of what are likely consequences, cannot claim that they have not been aware, and in essence, cannot shirk their responsibilities to rise above the political fray and indeed to respond as true representatives of the Guyanese people at this point,” Dr.Luncheon asserted.
“To link that to the future of Guyana and our ability to entertain good standing in the international community that is conferred by our compliance with our obligations is indeed a most reprehensible step by the opposition in parliament,” Dr. Luncheon said.
Both of the bills, he informed, have been returned to parliament. “The opposition is as aware as the administration what are now the relevant constitutional provisions that deal with bills that have failed to receive presidential assent and have been returned.
“The majority is needed to override the president’s non-assent. It is the two-thirds majority of the members, the MPs who are needed to vote to reverse, overturn, the president’s non-assent.”
It will now require approval by at least two-thirds of the 65 Members of the House before it can be returned to the president, at which point he cannot withhold assent.
With Guyana slated for international sanctions and blacklisting should the amendments not be approved by May 27, the Private Sector Commission has since added its voice to the public debate.
“Guyana presently stands at great risk of being deemed a credit risk by international financiers and becoming subject to sanctions restricting international financial transactions if we do not immediately put in place and implement the legislation required by the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), to counter money laundering and the financing of terrorism…Guyana cannot afford to be blacklisted in this manner.”
