President Ramotar apologises to APNU leader for oversight

May 22, 2013 News

Presidential Adviser on Governance Gail Teixeira yesterday during an interview with the National Communications Network said that President Donald Ramotar has issued an apology to Opposition Leader Mr. David Granger.

President Donald Ramotar

This followed the decision by members of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), to walk out of a meeting convened to discuss the amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill.
The opposition left the meeting after they were instructed not to take part in any further discussions by APNU’s leader. This was as a result of a perceived slight by the Opposition over a letter not being shared with them by the President.
Teixeira, in reading a part of the President’s correspondence to Mr. Granger, stated that, “I received that correspondence on April 12, 2013, at which time, the Office of the President was pressing for the resumption of budget talks with the parliamentary opposition and preparing for same. Importantly, I was made aware of the situation surrounding Guyana’s compliance to the CFATF obligations derived from the outcome of the CFATF/ICRG assessments. I was equally aware of the planned intervention in collaboration with local, regional and international stakeholders in organizing a workshop on the same matter on Wednesday, April 17.”
The letter further stated that, “It is in that context that the omission took place during which I may have committed the imagined slight as your May 20, 2013 correspondence intimates. I can assure you that no such slight was ever intended as your participation was expected at the workshop where the status of Guyana’s situation was the key agenda item.”
Teixeira said that while she appreciates that, “Mr. Granger may have felt some type of slight, it must be recognised that the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) encouraged the Head of State, and it was the president’s discretion, to invite who he wanted to, to a workshop where the issues surrounding the critical piece of legislation and recommendations by the oversight group of the CFATF, would be discussed.

Presidential Adviser on Governance Gail Teixeira

She noted, “The president in a generous way, quickly responded to a letter that he received the same day and tried to reach Mr. Granger, and also submitted a copy of this letter, both electronically and hard copy. We have received no response and further attempts to reach Mr. Granger have been unsuccessful”.
Ultimately, Ms. Teixeira, said, the possibility of meeting the internationally stipulated deadline for passing the critical piece of legislation is “very slim”.
Initially tabled on April 22, the Parliamentary opposition voted however, to defer the bill after its reading in the National Assembly on May 7 to the Special Select Committee for consideration. That committee was expected to conclude its work by today (May 22).
The Special Select Committee comprises government representatives Gail Teixeira, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh and the AG. On the opposition side, representing the Alliance for Change is Khemraj Ramjattan, whilst A Partnership for National Unity is represented by Deborah Backer, Joseph Harmon, Basil Williams and Carl Greenidge.
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global watchdog against financial crimes, will meet in Nicaragua from May 27-30 and will examine how Guyana and other countries in the Caribbean are meeting international obligations.
If Guyana does not pass the amendments within the given timeframe (May 27), then it shall be placed on a list with other delinquent countries, and would be visited with a regime of sanctions which will include restrictions in the manner that Guyana does business internationally especially involving wire transfers of funds. Once placed on that list, it takes an average