Anti-laundering bill still in limbo ahead of international review

Gail Teixeira

The parliamentary select committee on the stalled anti-money laundering amendment bill is not likely to meet again before October 10th, 14 days before Guyana is to undergo an international review of its legislative shortcomings considered by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

This is according to the committee’s Chairperson Gail Teixeira, who says she has failed to convince members of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change (AFC) to meet to consider the bill before the National Assembly’s annual recess. The opposition, however, is saying that government is to blame for delays in moving the committee’s work forward as it refuses to demonstrate the will needed.

APNU MP and committee member Joseph Harmon says the ball is in government’s court and added that it must now determine how to move forward. Stabroek News asked Harmon if APNU plans to push for meetings during the recess and he said government is not exhibiting any signs that such meetings would see progress. He said that government is aware of the opposition’s terms and has