Anti Money laundering discussions…Opposition is simply trying to save face

Jan 28, 2014 News

– There is no sensitive matters – AG

There was a recent disclosure by the Government’s Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, of having members of the media fraternity and other stakeholders present at the meetings of the Parliamentary Select Committee on the Anti-Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill.

Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall

However, according to Teixeira, the political opposition is opposed to this.
But the Shadow Finance Minister of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Carl Greenidge, explained that the faction is not opposed to the presence of the press except in the cases where “sensitive matters” are up for discussions.
Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, discredited Greenidge’s comments. He said that he is absolutely unaware of what can be described as “sensitive.”
“All we are doing is revising the Bill to see what changes can be made if any at all. We are not engaged in any secretive matter which the public should not know.”
The Attorney General added, “It was my suggestion since the Bill was debated in December 2013 before the National Assembly and prior to it being sent to the Committee that the press be invited.
“My reason for so suggesting was that no committee member can then misrepresent what transpired and more importantly the Guyanese public would be made aware from a nonpartisan source, who in the committee is really delaying the works and frustrating the completion of the works on such an important Bill.”
Greenidge, according to previous reports, had said, “We don’t believe that the presence of the media would be conducive to frank and candid discussions. Our position is that we can call on them when it is something that is not of a sensitive nature.”
He added, “With the case of the Anti Money Laundering Bill, this is perhaps a very sensitive matter because of the issues pertaining to businesses, smuggling of drugs, people, fuel, gold and other related issues.”
The Member of Parliament added, “Discussing issues about the security of information and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and its adequacy and its mode of recruiting personnel, I believe should not be open to the press. These are all matters that will be on the table for discussions.
“However, I wish to reiterate that our position should not be misconstrued by any means to mean that we are against the presence of the press. We are in support of transparency but some discussions should just remain private. It is too sensitive.”

Carl Greenidge, APNU’s Shadow Minister of Finance.

However, Nandlall firmly asserted, “I believe the opposition cannot with any credibility say that they do not want the press present so this attempt by them is to save face after the Chairperson of the select committee (Teixeira) and I revealed publically, the objective to have the press present at the discussions of the Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill.
“We are dealing with the examination of a Bill and changes that need to be made if any. We are not engaged in an exercise of scrutiny over the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) or matters outside of the initial objective. This is not a probe of any kind.”