- objects to PSC observing committee meetings
OPPOSITION parliamentarians last evening walked out of the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Special Select Committee meeting, in response to Government support for the Private Sector Commission’s (PSC) attendance at meetings of the committee in an “observer” capacity.The PSC had submitted a letter to the sub-committee last month requesting, as stakeholders, to observe the meetings. Last evening Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh moved the motion to have the PSC attend the meetings, but the Opposition, after objecting strenuously to the PSC being allowed to attend all meetings of the committee, walked out of the meeting in an attempt to avoid voting on the matter.
In an invited comment, Minister Singh stated that Government’s position was clear in that the private sector of Guyana has a legitimate interest in the timely passage of the legislation, given the grave consequences that would devolve on Guyana’s economy should Parliament fail to enact the amendments.
“This is a most unfortunate development, and reflects yet another attempt by the Opposition to frustrate the timely passage of this bill,” the Finance Minister declared.
“Their refusal to allow the PSC to observe the committee’s proceedings reflects the fact that they are unwilling to be unmasked and have revealed to the world at large the blatant delay tactics they have been attempting in frustrating the work of the committee.”
Minister Singh further noted that government members of the committee emphasised that they would have absolutely no objection to the PSC attending and observing the proceedings of the committee.
“In contrast, the Opposition clearly and persistently objected to the PSC being permitted to attend and observe all of the meetings of the committee,” explained Minister Singh.
“They attempted to evade and contort the matter and, eventually, when the chairperson of the committee attempted to put to the committee the specific matter of whether the PSC should be permitted to attend all meetings of the committee in an observer capacity, the Opposition walked out.”
This is the second incident where the Opposition has moved to muzzle the PSC in Parliament.
On November 6 last year, the combined Opposition voted down the motion for the reading of the PSC petition on the Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill prior to its debate in the National Assembly.
The petition represented 17 private sector groups which sought to urge Members of Parliament to recognise the damage to the private sector,the local economy and the citizens of Guyana if the legislature failed to enact the bill.
The business community has already begun to feel the consequences of Guyana being blacklisted by the CFATF. While FATF will discuss the case of Guyana at its plenary meeting in Paris scheduled from February 12-14, CFATF itself is expected to review Guyana’s position at its next meeting in May.
According to the FATF, jurisdictions that have not made sufficient progress in addressing the deficiencies or have not committed to an action plan developed with the FATF to address AML/CFT will be penalised. If Guyana does not comply, it will join countries such as Algeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Myanmar, Pakistan, Syria and Yemen as a blacklisted country by the FATF.