Ramotar, Granger differ on latest talks over anti-laundering bill

President Donald Ramotar says Opposition Leader David Granger has refused a compromise offered by government for his side’s support of the passage of the AML/CFT (Amendment) Bill but Granger is saying no compromise was offered.

In an address to the nation yesterday, Ramotar said that Granger contacted Cabinet Secretary Roger Luncheon on Tuesday night indicating an interest to meet on the issue of the bill.

Pursuant to this indication the president said he called Granger and agreed to the meeting, during which he (Ramotar) “proposed to him that the Government was willing to pass the Bill with the Opposition’s amendments, even though we felt it was non-compliant, and even though we did not agree with it that we would vote for it so that we can have a Bill before the FATF meeting later in June, 2014.”

The president also said he proposed that the opposition amend the bill accordingly if the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) found their proposed provisions non-compliant.

Ramotar further proposed that the opposition parties not link the passage of the bill to his assenting to bills he has previously rejected and government’s support in the setting up and operationalisation of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC).

All of these offers, the president has said, have been turned down.

APNU however, released a statement last night which says that “contrary to the recent pronouncements by his Excellency the President Donald Ramotar