THE defeat of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) (Amendment) Bill will undoubtedly engage the attention of the public in the months to come as the fallout of the vote unfolds itself.The efficacy of the new dispensation in the National Assembly, 32-33 in favour of the Opposition, comes now under greater scrutiny, with the interest of your average Guyanese man and woman hanging in the balance.
The entire debacle reiterates the fact that Guyana needs statesmen and women, not politicians whose playbook reflects infantile politics.
There is something disturbing about infantile political plays. It is like watching a screaming toddler reject the arms of strangers, making clear “I don’t want this.” The resemblance to the proceedings in the National Assembly is uncanny, with the majority of key stakeholders in Guyana making clear: “We don’t want the Bill to be defeated” and the combined Opposition remaining intent on forcing this unwanted notion down the throats of the Guyanese people.
The position of the Alliance For Change (AFC) is understood to an extent. Their contention was that the government should deliver on the Public Procurement Commission before they support the Bill (that is the understandable part). However, in the House, last Thursday, the party’s leader Khemraj Ramjattan supported A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) call for the Bill’s re-committal – a call whose basis is still to be made clear.
APNU, on the other hand, has in the eyes of the Guyanese people toyed with this piece of legislation from the start.
The Attorney General (AG), Anil Nandlall, in a last-ditch attempt to save the Bill stressed in the House last Thursday that the Bill should be passed, even if to meet the “minimum” requirements of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) and assured that the opportunity to make other amendments will be available.
The play of politics usually goes over the heads of the average man on the street, the reasoning of actions advanced not truly understood, at least, until the results undesired or not are realised.
And here is where we have to acknowledge the real impacts of infantile politics: the “certain” blacklisting of Guyana, according to the Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh; and real consequences for the Guyanese people, according to President Donald Ramotar, including the functioning of banks with external links, already being seen with the cessation of operations by the Citi-Bank group in Guyana.
Most disturbing of the impacts of the fallout for Guyana is the deepening chasm in the political divide and the heightened level of distrust among political factions.
Alas, the circus seems to be remaining in town for a few more years, unless snap elections are called.
The pressing question now is whether or not political parties will manage to justify themselves against their party policy lines and platform for change.
Compromise must make sense for all stakeholders and must resonate with your average Guyanese, with whom the real power lies. No compromise would ultimately mean that no one wins, regardless of the indignation with which politicians boast their positions.
Both sides have to be wary of pushing their lines too hard and too fast and move swiftly away from the practice of infantile politics – the Guyanese people deserve more.
The crises facing Guyana demand ‘all hands on deck’, not political plays that violate the responsibility to advance sustainable development.
Almost two years into the 10th Parliament, the perception that we are still in ‘silly season’ needs to be dispelled – the sooner the better.