Dear Editor,
The demands made by the political opposition as preconditions for giving support to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act are just. For while this bill seeks to hold Guyana accountable as a regional/international business partner among fellow nation states, the country will again be done a grave disservice if, as in so many other instances, laws are made but the political will and maturity are lacking to activate them. Germane to this bill is the issue of accountability by government, organisations and individuals under a universal law to ensure business transactions not only conform to financial probity but also ensure the security/safety of self and the nation. Given this country’s international notoriety and the overwhelming presence of an illegal economy, it is in the interest of all who wish to live in a society where laws are paramount, where their safety is guaranteed and violators are held accountable, to call on the government to listen, at the same time as we call on the opposition to ensure that frameworks are put in place, not only for this bill but for every law and institution that seeks to safeguard our rights.
A country is not held to ransom when its citizens/elected representatives demand that government ‒ whose primary function is to serve and protect them ‒ act in a manner which will respect and safeguard their wellbeing. A country is held to ransom when any government or individual thinks it/he can disregard the will of the people and be selective in honouring laws. Government is usually expected to lead by example and the calls made by the opposition to the executive present the opportunity for President Ramotar to demonstrate to this nation he understands modern governance and how it ought to work. It offers him an opportunity, once again, to prove his mettle. And if the administration fails to so heed or thinks that it can so fail to heed by engaging in attacks and misinformation, then the workers/citizens are duty bound to make known that their resources and wellbeing will no longer be held hostage to a backward political culture.
The fact that the executive has chosen to use the power vested in it by the people not in the interest of the people, and being emboldened by others to continue along this path because of the personal benefit they derive from such action/association, ought not to be countenanced by those who know better. To call on the opposition to work with the government to pass the bill to avoid reported sanctions, without calling for and seeing to it that the government works with the opposition in restoring good governance is an abrogation of civic duty. The threat of sanctions ought not to be used as an excuse to subvert or deny the opposition its responsibility to hold the executive accountable. Rather, those who recognise or fear such sanctions should be calling on the government to use the threat of same to honour its responsibility under the constitution and so hold themselves accountable.
Further, the failure to provide needed information, or produce a bill close to deadline in the hope that such will escape accountability, or ignore day-to-day good governance, which the Public Procurement Commission and the Fiscal Management Accountability Act, among others, seek to secure, are demonstrations of contempt for the people. Given the administration’s reputation for disregarding current laws and avoidance of legislation to ensure internal sanctions for selected public office holders should be of concern to all. Thus, those using timelines and what they construe as a negative impact on business, Guyana’s so-called credit worthiness, money transfers, etc, absent calling for the implementation of the foregoing, are enabling the use of public office for wrongdoing. And by extension their pronouncement gives credence to the international community calls, via this bill, in demanding the society halts such practices and sanctions those who engage in same.
For one cannot demand the passing of a bill because it allows your business to function or money to flow to the state, when money if not properly managed at the state level opens another avenue for laundering and protection, by virtue of the state’s refusal to put laws in place to sanction those who violate public trust. If the Ramotar administration, civil society and individuals are serious about good governance, honouring laws and respecting/protecting the people, the opposition’s positions present the opportunity to demonstrate so.
Yours faithfully,
Lincoln Lewis
