In the absence of the opposition PPP/C, government yesterday tabled its first five bills in the Eleventh Parliament including one to reduce the benefits of former presidents and the updated anti-money laundering legislation.
The APNU+AFC coalition government, unlike the previous PPP/C administration, would not have a problem passing these bills as it holds a one-seat majority in the National Assembly. The first bill to be laid in the House was the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2015 which amends the Third Schedule relating to Article 222A of the Constitution to provide financial autonomy to certain entities such as Parliament and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). While in opposition, APNU and AFC had sought to have the Donald Ramotar administration pass this bill but was unsuccessful.
The Bill was Attorney-General Basil Williams’ first as minister and he also tabled the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2015. The PPP/C has criticized this version of the bill saying that it is
