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Anti-Money Laundering discussions…A “certain degree of progress” achieved at latest meeting
By Kiana Wilburg
Though much bickering and the popular “blame game” had tainted most of the discussions on the contentious Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill, there was finally a ray of hope at the conclusion of one of the committee’s meeting held last evening.
Joseph Harmon
This is according to A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s Shadow Minister of Public Works and Telecommunications, Joseph Harmon.
There were reports that the Chairperson of the Select Committee, Gail Teixeira, had concluded the works on the Bill in the absence of opposition members, but Harmon informed this publication that this was not the case and that deliberations on the Bill are still continuing.
He added that the meeting “went so smoothly” that he is “most pleased with the way it was conducted”. “We have a matrix which we have put together and it will be looked at over the weekend. We have fresh documents that we have to look at as well. The meeting last night went well… We achieved a certain degree of progress.”
Prior to this successful engagement, Basil Williams, who serves as the Shadow Minister of Legal Affairs of APNU, had expressed his disappointment over the fact that there was no meeting held to review the pertinent presentations made by some stakeholders on the Anti-Money Laundering Bill.
Williams informed members of the media corps during a press briefing at APNU’s Hadfield Street office that some important questions and suggestions on the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill were presented to members of the Special Select Committee.
Some of these stakeholders included Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram, Professor Clive Thomas and members of the Bankers Association.
Williams said that the People’s Progressive Party had once again shown a laid back attitude in having the works of the Special Select Committee done in a proper manner.
“At first we had to fight with them for stakeholders to be heard, which they shut out at the first sitting. The government had to be brought kicking and screaming before those persons could testify before the committee. And I am happy they came.”
The politician then made reference to a question raised by members of the Bar Association. The question was based on the privilege of communication between lawyer and client.
“The legislation says that the supervising authority can turn up at the lawyer’s office without a search warrant and seize important and confidential documents, and since it doesn’t say that it can be taken permissively, it suggests that certain confidential information can be taken with force from lawyers. This raises questions of protection of property and third persons accessing information and the security of the individual.”
While describing the presentations as lively and incisive, Williams opined that the next appropriate thing was for there to be a review of such submissions and for it to be reflected in the Bill. But it was never suggested, more so conducted.
“Everything was just rushed,” Williams stated.
Further, it was reported that Guyana had topped the list of some 55 countries that are non-compliant and without effective legislation and may therefore be subject to a more serious review process by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) next week.
However, in response to this contention, the APNU MP asserted, “We are not too sure about this mid-February review, but we are willing to do the work and ensure that the Chairperson of the Committee, Gail Teixeira, does the work in a manner which serves the people.”
Williams then stressed that it is important that the Bill be amended in such a manner that it surpasses the expectations and requirements of FATF. In other words, he explained that Guyana must aim for “super-compliance”.
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