The Private Sector Commission (PSC) said it is disgusted at the treatment by the combined opposition of its petition to Parliament on the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, and the bill itself.
The PSC said it represents those industries that drive the Guyana economy forward while providing the bulk of the employment opportunities and include, as outlined in the petition, Guyana’s business community across the country, rice, mining (gold and bauxite), banking and insurance, construction, telecommunications and associated services, domestic aviation, manufacturing, fishing, tourism and forestry.
According to the PSC, state ownership of the productive sector of the economy has failed as is evidenced today by sugar, the last remaining industry that remains within state ownership.
“The private sector collectively is one of the most important stakeholders in this country with a legitimate and irrefutable interest in preserving the health and stability of the domestic economy and it is for this reason – to protect against further economic slippage – that the Private Sector Commission petitioned Parliament.”
The PSC said the combined opposition saw it fit, despite the economic importance of this stakeholder, to deny the presentation and reading in Parliament of a petition from the private sector, thereby denying a voice to the very people who drive the economy and employ a high percentage of the nation’s citizens.
Inexplicable contempt
“This action reveals an inexplicable contempt for the stakeholders of this country and/ or a lack of understanding of how the economy functions. In a civilised world, on critical matters of economic and national importance, it is mandatory for leaders to rise above this petty and often retrogressive tit for tat disposition. We expect nothing less from our elected representatives, who must understand that merit is the most important factor for the people of this country.”
The commission said it records its deep disappointment over the actions of Parliament and holds this 10th Parliament accountable for any damage that may accrue to the Guyana economy going forward.
Last Thursday, the joint opposition parliamentary parties used its one-seat majority in the National Assembly to block the presentation of the petition which sought to call on them to give support to the anti-money laundering legislation in the interest of avoiding economic hardships and financial blacklisting.
The petition, which would have been presented by People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C) Member of Parliament (MP) Manzoor Nadir, was described as “offensive”, “ vexatious”, “malicious” and “inaccurate” by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) MP Carl Greenidge, who drew first blood by raising a point of order, creating the first challenge to the piloting of the document.
Greenidge argued that the correct procedures were not followed by the petitioners or Nadir as far as the Standing Orders had allowed for its presentation to the National Assembly.
Greenidge’s contentions
“The assembly will not receive any petition which is not properly and respectfully worded… It shall not contain ironical and nonsensical words that would not be used in debate,” he argued, while quoting Standing Orders 40 (A), 15 and 26.
The APNU shadow finance minister also described the document as “ignorant”. He said it sought to lay blame at the feet of the opposition, having accused it of not making its concerns known in written form to the special select committee within the six months it was at that level.
House Speaker Raphael Trotman tried to advance the petition to the next level by cautioning the opposition about the route it was seeking to pursue on Thursday.
He reminded the Parliament of the precedence that had been set by other opposition members, including Volda Lawrence, who was allowed to bring and present a petition to the Parliament with ease.
Government’s Chief Whip Gail Teixeira expressed her disappointment at attempts by the opposition political parties to muzzle the private sector by seeking to obstruct its presentation to the National Assembly.
She argued buoyantly that the right of all Guyanese to petition their representatives and the Parliament is sacrosanct in any society. The two page petition was signed by PSC Chairman Ronald Webster and the entity’s Governance and Security Sub-Committee Chairman Gerald Gouveia. It details the impact of the non-passage of the anti-money laundering bill on the financial operations, economic standing, remittances, insurance companies, among other agencies of the country.
