Latest update November 26th, 2024 1:00 AM
AML/CFT non-passage…Opposition endangering welfare of Guyanese
– President Ramotar
President Donald Ramotar yesterday called upon the opposition to “unconditionally” pass the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) (Amendment) Bill so as to “limit the harm already done and the dangers to our people’s well
President Donald Ramotar
being.”
The Head-of-State’s call came on the heels of the statement released by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) which sought to warn its members against doing business with Guyana.
The President in a missive released yesterday afternoon acknowledged that CFATF had, a few hours before, issued a public statement informing “the world” that Guyana poses serious risks to the International Financial System.
CFATF called upon its members to take measures to protect their systems from those risks.
The President said that his government did “everything possible” to secure a safe passage of the controversial piece of legislation.
Ramotar pointed out that the AML/CFT Bill was laid in the National Assembly since last year April and noted, “Had it been passed then, Guyana would not be in this situation today.”
The President also mentioned that the Opposition (reference to A Partnership for National Unity) wasted a lot of time in its delay to pose the amendments to the Bill. He noted too that the Opposition had at one time voted down the Bill.
The Head of State reminded that CARICOM Leaders at the Heads of Government meeting in St. Vincent and the Grenadines urged Guyana to pass the Legislation to prevent the unnecessary hardship to our people and the rest of the region.
“Individual CARICOM Leaders, the Organization of American States the local business, labour, banking, insurance and farming communities also made several appeals to have this legislation urgently passed. The Chairperson, the CEO of CFATF also visited Guyana and urged that the CFATF compliant Bill be passed. Moreover, exhortations by the Diplomatic Community here also pointed to the dangers and urged that we pass this bill.”
The President also mentioned the local cries, specifically that of the Private Sector Commission (PSC). He said that despite the regional, international and local voices, the Opposition stubbornly refused to support the passage of a CFATF-compliant Bill.
“In so doing, they have now put in danger our country’s financial system…Moreover they have now endangered the very welfare of all of our citizens…I will assent to such a Bill as soon as it is sent to me by the National Assembly.
(Abena Rockcliffe)
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