THE Parliamentary Special Select Committee, reviewing the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) (Amendment) Bill, adjourned after meeting for an hour yesterday in the Committee Room of Public Buildings.And the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, told the Guyana Chronicle that the draft of the proposed amendments by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) could be ready by next Wednesday, March 12.
He said, “The CPC (Chief Parliamentary Counsel) had raised a number of queries, in writing, with the APNU members seeking clarifications and assistance from them, but to date he has not received a response.
“Nevertheless he is grappling with putting together a draft which may capture what he believes they want with modifications of his own to make it acceptable to the Opposition, and at the same time, compliant with CFAFT (the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force), as well as Principal Act of 2009, sister legislations and guidelines and recommendations from CFATF itself.”
He reported to the Committee on behalf of the CPC that the draft has not been completed as he continues to encounter difficulties.
The difficulties he cited were in relation to the fact that the proposed amendments collide with other legislations, is inconsistent with different sections of the principal act itself, and may be contrary to the Constitution, as well as runs afoul of guidelines and recommendations of CFATF,” Nandlall said.
The Committee is scheduled to meet again next Wednesday.

(Vanessa Narine)