Scores of Essequibians are calling for a snap election if the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) (AML/CFT) Bill is not passed by the opposition in Parliament.
The calls were made at a public forum held at the Anna Regina Town Council on Friday. Persons from both public and private entities voiced their opinions on the Bill, and said the opposition is using its one-seat majority in Parliament to slow down development in Guyana.
Essequibians who attended the forum said they believe the delay in the passing of the Bill will significantly affect Guyana’s economy. As such, many suggested a snap election. Others called for picketing exercises against the opposition to hasten the passing of the Bill, which will mean change for Guyana.
Speaking on behalf of women in Region Two was Juliet Coonjah, who said if the Bill was not passed, women in particular will suffer. Coonjah said most Guyanese depend on the extra money received from their families overseas to assist them. She stressed that the opposition should not bring politics into the passing of the Bill, but rather should think of Guyanese welfare.
Former PPP/C Member of Parliament Farouk Khan told the gathering that Guyana is advancing and if the Bill is not passed, it will send the country back into the “dark days”. Representing farmers from the Pomeroon was Vilma Da Silva, who also called for the passage of the Bill. She said many farmers in the Pomeroon are in the business of exporting and are earning money from overseas investments. She noted Guyana being blacklisted will hamper foreign investment.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh explained in detail the Bill and cautioned Essequibians of the consequences of not passing the legislation. The Minister said the opposition parties in Guyana continue to employ delaying tactics by proposing three amendments to the AML/CFT Bill that the National Assembly’s legal drafters had difficulty drafting. Government had proposed that the Bill be passed in its current form, and the opposition amendments be considered later.
Hardship
The opposition refused to accommodate this suggestion and voted against proceeding with the clauses on which there is agreement and which would have addressed the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) recommendations.
Instead the opposition insisted that the committee be adjourned until the drafters could produce a draft of the Bill based on its instructions, thereby effectively making it impossible for the Bill to be passed by the recommended deadline.
This refusal by the opposition to proceed, Singh said, continues to frustrate passage of the Bill far beyond the deadline, thus jeopardising Guyana’s economy and bringing hardship to the Guyanese people.
The Finance Minister noted that money laundering is an issue that should be put above politics. “This Bill if it is not passed will not just affect PPP, it will affect Guyanese at large.”
Dr Singh said Essequibians have a voice and a duty to support the Bill. He urged the opposition councillors who were present at the meeting to advise their leaders about passing the Bill.
Examining the consequences for Guyana if the Bill is not passed in a timely manner, the Finance Minister said the country will be sanctioned. He called on Essequibians to pause for a minute to think about the impact on the economy if the international banks refused to conduct business with Guyana. The CFATF blacklisting is already taking a toll on Guyana’s financial sector.
