After 10 months of waiting… Motion to appoint members to Anti-Money Laundering Committee deferred

Mar 17, 2018 News

…Govt. fails to provide clear reasons

Dr. George Norton, Chairman of the Committee of Appointments

After 10 months of languishing in the House, a motion which would pave the way for the establishment of an anti-money laundering committee and the appointment of its members was successfully deferred.

This occurred during Thursday’s sitting of the National Assembly.

Moving the motion for deferral was Social Cohesion Minister, Dr. George Norton. The Parliamentarian also serves as the Chairperson of the Committee on Appointments.

While he did not provide any specific reasons, Norton told the House that he has been informed that there has been “some action” in relation to this motion, hence the request for deferment.

But the political opposition, in usual form, did not find favour with this request. Specifically, Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira took the Government to task as to why it wants a delay in the adoption of the motion.

Teixeira said, “We are in total disagreement for any further deferral. It has been before the House for a long time. The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Amendment Act (AML/CFT) was passed in 2015 and the Committee in accordance with the law, carried out consultations for 10 names of fit and proper persons to sit on that AML authority…”

The Opposition Chief Whip continued, “We find that this is highly irregular on the part of the Chairman to come to this House and ask for a deferral without enlightening the members of this House as to the reason for the deferral… Are the names put forward not considered fit and proper? Is that it?”

The names as listed in the motion for appointment to the AML committee are: Nicholas Deygoo, Captain Gerald R. Gouveia, Wayne Eucaulton Fordyce, Hance Manohar, Frederick Collins, Thomas Bissessar Singh, Mohamed Alli, Christopher Ram, Melissa Jessica DeSantos and Ms. Sadie Amin.

Teixeira subsequently added, “Without proper reasons, I therefore have to be suspicious of this deferral.”

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams was evidently irritated by Teixeira’s comments and pushed for the House to get on with the business of passing the motion.

He said, “On what basis is she (Teixeira) speaking? We are being regaled for the last few minutes Mr. Speaker. The Chairman asked for a deferral. What is she objecting to…?”

After several minutes of further discussion on the motion, House Speaker, Dr. Barton Scotland put the motion to a vote and the deferral was passed, given the Government’s majority.

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