Latest update May 16th, 2026 12:35 AM
Latest News
- Govt. now admits to US$97M settlement to Wales contractor
- Changing Guyana’s oil contract calls for political will – T&T Energy Strategist
- Israel kills seven in Lebanon, agrees ‘ceasefire’ extension at talks in U.S.
- ‘Deportee’ jailed 18 years for Corentyne rum shop murder
- Guyana and Suriname Presidents advance talks on Corentyne River Bridge, trade and energy
WHAT HAS CHANGED?
Anyone who is familiar with the US immigration laws knows all too well that if you are denied a visitor’s visa at a US embassy, it makes little sense in reapplying unless you can demonstrate that your circumstances since the first interview have changed.
If you cannot show how things are different–and favourably different since your last interview there is little chance of you being successful when reapplying. In short, between the time of your first application and your second application, your circumstances cannot remain the same if you are to stand any chance of being granted a visa.
The government of Guyana is about to re-table in the National Assembly a number of pieces of legislation which were all voted down by the combined opposition. Amongst the most important pieces of legislation in this bundle of Bills is the Anti-Money Laundering and the Countering of Terrorism Bill which was previously voted down by the opposition. The particular Bill was necessary to allow Guyana to become complaint with its international obligations to combat terrorism and fight money laundering.
As a result of the negative vote, the government was unable to bring its laws in compliance with the recommendations of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF). The CFTAF met in November and blacklisted Guyana as not being sufficiently compliant.
If Guyana does not become compliant by May of next year, Guyana will be reported to the international partners of the CFTAF and thus become subject to deep-reaching sanctions which are likely to hurt the economy and discourage foreign investment.
The government is eager for the Bill to be passed. But since it has a minority in the National Assembly, it needs to be assured that one or both of the opposition parties will support the passage of the Bill.
But what has changed since the last time the Bill was introduced? It is the same Bill that was rejected that is going to be introduced and while the rejection by the opposition parties were on the basis of grounds extraneous to the contents of the Bill, there is nothing to suggest that the circumstances between the government and the opposition has changed thereby allowing for support for the passage of the Bill.
The AFC had demanded that the government establish the Public Procurement Commission. The government tabled an amendment to the Procurement Act to remove what it saw as a contradiction in the existing law relating to government’s right to a no objection.
The AFC is uncompromisingly opposed to the government having any such right.
Since then there has been no progress made in talks between the sides and in fact the relationship between the government and the opposition reached a low-point after the opposition killed the Anti- Money Laundering and the Countering of Terrorism Bill.
The opposition is inflexible and the government is defiant. This is the perfect combination for no progress and therefore it is befuddling to understand just what the government hopes to achieve by re-tabling the Bill when it knows very well that nothing has changed and the Bill is not likely to be passed.
In order to break this impasse what is required to a period of cooling off for both sides. It is inopportune for the government to be attempting to once again table Bills without any possibility of these Bills enjoying the support of either or both of the opposition parties in the National Assembly.
If the Bill is defeated again, this will only worsen the already strained relationship between the government and the opposition parties. And with that will come a great deal of problems as the country prepares for another Budget without any input at all from the opposition.
The political climate has not improved. Heavy winds of hostility are driving the ship of political stability off course. The clouds are dark and thick; a storm is brewing and the rise in the political temperature that will result from continued stalemate will not make things better. Not now. Not next week. Not next month.
Share this:
Discover more from Kaieteur News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.