Dear Editor,
The Bartica United Youth Development Group (BUYDG) is calling on the three political parliamentary parties to urgently sort out their differences and work in good faith in the interest of all the citizens of Guyana to complete the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Bill (AML/CFT) before the deadline (February 13).
BUYDG is well aware of the parties’ positions, namely the AFC call for the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC); APNU’s call for President Donald Ramotar to assent to bills already passed by the National Assembly, such as the Local Government Bill; and the PPP/C government’s insistence the bill must be completed before the deadline to avoid sanctions from the Financial Action Task Force. A lot of residents who receive money from their families overseas could suffer.
We call on all three parties to reach an agreement on establishing a PPC, which is long overdue; presidential assent to the local government bill; and the passage of the AML/CFT bill before the deadline.
This is not the time for tit for tat or for the bill to be used as an avenue for any other agenda a political party intends to pursue; BUYDG believes that the time has come for all the parties to work together in the interest of the citizens and minimize the conflict and stalemates on matters which involve the country’s welfare. The parties need to try their best to reach common ground. BUYDG compliments the move by the special select committee to meet over the weekend and yesterday, and requests that the committee complete the bill so it can be laid before the National Assembly.
In closing BUYDG calls for the implementation of the US democracy project which the government here has tried to stop. The project will help to put mechanisms in place that will minimize the problems the National Assembly is facing, and also help facilitate a smooth process for the local government elections as well as strengthen democracy in Guyana, etc.
Yours faithfully,
Micah Williams
General President
BUYDG
