THE ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), on Monday, recorded its concern over the parliamentary vote that defeated the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) (Amendment) Bill.
“The 10th Parliament seems to be working on the notion that it is the work of the Opposition to obstruct every effort to improve and to build on our participatory democracy…the people who denied democracy for almost three decades, today in Opposition is demonstrating that their natural inclination is to subvert freedoms and democracy.” – Dr. Leslie Ramsammy
And party member, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, at a media briefing at Freedom House, Robb Street, Georgetown, made clear that the Government, as well as stakeholders, who advocated the Bill’s passage are not engaging in fear mongering, rather,they are conveying real, consequent realities.
Asked about the possibility of snap elections, Ramsammy stated that the decision is up to the party’s executive.
However, he noted that, aside from the defeat of the AML/CFT vote, the rejection of the Private Sector Commission’s (PSC’s) petition reflected an attempt to sabotage Guyana’s democracy, since the combined Opposition essentially denied the right to not only be able to address the Parliament, but denied their right to speech and freedom of expression.
According to him, after serving in the National Assembly since the seventh Parliament, the 10th Parliament is the “most obstructionist” of all the parliaments.
“The 10th Parliament seems to be working on the notion that it is the work of the Opposition to obstruct every effort to improve and to build on our participatory democracy…the people who denied democracy for almost three decades, today in Opposition is demonstrating that their natural inclination is to subvert freedoms and democracy,” Ramsammy said.
The minister emphasised that the facts are clear.
He said: “We haven’t made up any story….businesses of Guyana are saying that, the diplomatic community is saying that and the authority, which is tasked with oversight, and ensuring that proper rules are followed, the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), has said that if this does not happen, well these are the consequences.”
In the face of the November 18 CFATF deadline, when the body is scheduled to host a plenary meeting, Guyana is expected to be blacklisted.
Consequently, the impacts are expected to affect the smooth transfer of monies by the business sector’s operations; the functioning of banks with external links, already being seen with the cessation of operations by the Citi-Bank group in Guyana; access to insurance, since 85 per cent of local companies depend on reinsurance from overseas bodies; and increased burdens in processing remittances– facts reiterated over the last few days by several Government ministers, as well as President Donald Ramotar.
According to the Minister of Agriculture, Government pushed the Amendment Bill on the basis of a call from CFATF, with the risks of not complying being well aired.
Ramsammy said: “Life will become more difficult and even if life does not stop, the job of the National Assembly is to make the lives of people easier, not more difficult.
“The passage of this Amendment Bill would have allowed our business and our people to do financial transactions within the rules of regulations, internationally accepted.”
He added that Guyana is part of a “global governance system” and is obliged to comply.
“We cannot pick and choose, when we belong to an international system,” the minister insisted.
REPRESENTATION
Ramsammy and colleague Minister Juan Edghill, both called for the combined Opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) to make clear whose interests they represent.
He said: “The truth is there was never[an] intent to pass the Bill. It was, as the President said, economic sabotage.
“Every time this Government has tried to protect the interest and promote the interest of the people of Guyana and of our country, the Opposition has stood in the path of those developments.”
He added that, in reviewing the actions of the combined Opposition, it is clear on whose side they stand.
“The Opposition has openly, not what I say, not accusing anyone and not speculating, but when you vote against those things (referencing legislation to prevent trafficking of illegal firearms) you vote in favour of the criminals and against the nation,” the minister said.
The AML/CFT Bill is in the interest of preserving law and order and freedom and democracy.
“The people of Guyana know the truth because it is clear in our words and our actions,” Ramsammy maintained.
Edghill added that the contentions of the combined Opposition are “hot air” and explained that, as a sitting member of the Select Committee that reviewed the AML/CFT Bill, the concerns the Opposition said they had were never brought to the Committee.
“Not a line, a paragraph or page,” the Junior Finance Minister said.
He said the intent of the combined Opposition was clear from the start and evidenced in their vote.
“They wanted to ensure that they kept going on and on so that we miss the deadline and Guyana faces the economic hardships that will face us,” Edghill posited.
According to him, the vote was a “betrayal of monumental” proportions.
CFATF, in a statement, has said that, if Guyana is not found sufficiently compliant, it will instruct its member states to take precautions to safeguard themselves from the risks emanating from Guyana.
Guyana’s team to CFATF, led by Attorney General (AG), Anil Nandlall, is expected to make a case for this country at the meeting next week.
(By Vanessa Narine)