Blacklisting impasse demonstrates leadership crisis

Jun 02, 2014 News

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…Ramotar must act, the buck stops at him – GTUC

“The trading of words, absent efforts and appropriate leadership to resolve outstanding matters to allow passage of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill (AML/CFT) will not de-escalate the situation or bring resolution.”
This is the view held by the Guyana Trades Union Congress, which over the weekend made public its latest position on the impasse facing Guyana over the non passage of the legislation and the recent move by the Caribbean Financial Action Taskforce (CFATF).
The GTUC yesterday said that it views with concern and understanding the position taken by CFATF.
“The CFATF’s consideration that Guyana is a risk to the international financial system and referral to the international Financial Action Task Force (FATF) bear testimony to the seriousness and commitment this institution takes of its responsibility to ensure legitimate and anti-terroristic financial transactions among member states.”

According to the GTUC, CFATF has done its job, Guyana and Guyanese must do theirs.
It said that President Donald Ramotar is the nation’s Head of State and Head of Government and has a greater responsibility to protect the integrity and reputation of the country at home and abroad. Guyana’s deficiencies in the AML/CFT have been a matter engaging CFATF since 2009.
“Now is not the time for propaganda, scoring partisan political points or insisting that the bill be passed without conditions…These will not work because this is not the way real politics work especially when the support of political rivals is needed.”
GTUC pointed out that having been placed on the Caribbean Watch list/Black list in 2013- and given as per the CFATF’s Financial Advisor that it requires a minimum of two years to be removed and such is contingent on adherence- to be placed in a similar situation by FATF will do this nation further disservice.
GTUC said it is concerned at the state of affairs that is resulting in the non-passage of the AML/CFT.
“This is clearly a crisis in leadership that is spilling over into creating a crisis in governance…A political environment that guarantees collective participation and representation, inherently leads to negotiation and consensus, but is yet again squandered in pursuit of political gamesmanship.”
GTUC posits that no environment that allows for competitive party politics will see any party cede opportunities to hold the incumbent accountable or extract conditions for support.
Actions by the opposition to tie passage of the AML/CFT are normal and acceptable political behaviours, according to the Trade Union body.
“They are also not unreasonable or unjust because they seek to bring about a level of good governance, of which accountability and laws are prerequisites.”
GTUC suggested that the untenable situation with the Town Clerk at the City Council would have been addressed by the Local Government Commission was it established.
“Failure of the Anti-money Laundering Unit to track Roger Khan’s assets can be addressed by giving this unit teeth and autonomy.”
GTUC said too that the wanton waste and abuse of the workers’ tax dollars on projects and the substandard nature of these would be curtailed through the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission.
“Rather than the government using the AML/CFT opportunity to demonstrate to the nation and our regional and international counterparts that Guyana is capable of good governance, the worthwhile opportunity is seized upon to gain divisive political mileage.”
The current political leadership can learn lessons from their predecessors, according to the GTUC.
“Prime Minister/President Forbes Burnham and Minority/Opposition Leader Cheddi Jagan worked together on matters of national import…These leaders got things done together without having to give up their political pursuits.”
GTUC cited as example, the nationalisation of bauxite in 1971 and sugar in 1976, the takeover of the private schools, and issues of border security required the opposition’s support in the National Assembly and in the public sphere.
GTUC reminded that the support of the opposition was not without conditions and these were met by the government.
The two leaders also spoke in unity on matters attending to the violation of local workers by foreign businesses and managers, according to the GTUC.”Nothing prevents the current corps of leadership from emulating this politics of engagement, negotiation and agreement…The society desires it.”
GTUC in its statement on the impasse encouraged President Ramotar to deliver the required leadership to the country and protect the nation’s integrity and reputation by convening a meeting with the three parliamentary groups on the way forward.
“In the final analysis the buck stops at him and everyone is looking to him.”

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