Latest update April 23rd, 2024 12:59 AM
Aug 09, 2013 News
The joint Opposition in the National Assembly has essentially stifled Guyana for the non-passage of Anti-money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism Act.
This is according to Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon who used words like “death” and “disaster” to describe the consequence of Guyana missing the deadline for the passage of the amended Act.
Dr. Luncheon has placed the blame solely on the Parliamentary Opposition Parties, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC), for Guyana not meeting the August 26 deadline set by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) for the passage of the amended Act.
With the National Assembly going into recess on August 10 and expected to resume in October, discussions on this legislation are now at a standstill in the Special Select Committee.
But, while CFATF has confirmed that the deadline for the submission of relevant documentation including the amended Act is indeed August 26, the Opposition Parties refuse to believe and are maintaining the deadline is November, as earlier mentioned by a government minister.
According to Dr. Luncheon, “one shudders to think what the consequences would be for Guyana missing the deadline. We know who would be responsible for unveiling this disaster on Guyana and Guyanese,” he said.
Addressing media operatives at his post-Cabinet press briefing, the government spokesperson said Cabinet members shared their concerns about the disaster Parliament has become with regards to the national development thrust of the PPP/C Administration.
“Cabinet contends that it is evident that the Opposition relishes its shortsightedness of addressing issues of profound national interest. To come back in October 2013 is the death that the opposition APNU/AFC alliance can offer this nation with regard to the deadline thrust upon us by the CFATF in responding to our treaty obligation in Anti-money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism,” he said.
He stressed that the selection of October is a dastardly act clearly intended to leave Guyana at the clutches of CFATF.
“As we fail to meet even in the presence of advance notice and the opportunity being provided even in the presence of those two facts, with the time to address CFATF concerns and be on the right side of our treaty obligation, the consequence makes one shudder to think what would be the outcome at the deadline.”
“The persons responsible for the non-passage of this legislation consider themselves as alternatives to Government? How on earth could we have thought or even believed they ultimately would come to a decision like this? They basically said screw Guyana we don’t care, when October comes whatever has to happen will happen!” he emphasized.
Dr. Luncheon said there will be many apologists who would seek to defend their course of action.
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