Diaspora News - February 8 - 14, 2014

8/13/2019 Diaspora News - February 8 - 14, 2014

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WE MUST NOT ALLOW GUYANA TO BECOME A NARCO-STATE

A Partnership for National Unity expresses its alarm at the reports in the international media thata Guyana-Italy cocaine conspiracy has emerged. Guyanese narco-traffickers are working with Ital-

ian Mafiosi.

The international media reported that two dozen suspected narco-traffickers linked to the Gam-

bino and Bonanno crime families and the Italian crime syndicate known asNdranghetahad been

arrested earlier this week in New York and Italy during the coordinated American-

Italian Operation New Bridge.

The clans were in the advanced stages of plans to smuggle some 500 kg (1,000 pounds) of pure co-

caine from Guyana in South America to the port of Gioia Tauro in Calabria. Italian investigators

estimated the street value of the shipment to be US$1 billion. Guyanese recall that the conspiracy

began to unravel when the Malaysian news agency Bernama reported that a container from Guy-

ana was intercepted with cocaine in coconut milk in November 2012.

Narcotics-trafficking seems to be increasing. The crime is driving this countrys high rates of mon-

ey-laundering, gun-running, execution-murders and armed robberies. Violent crime is scaring for-

eign investors, driving away the educated lite, undermining economic growth and impeding social

development. A former Crime Chief warned that execution-type killings many of which are sus-

pected to be related to the narcotics-trafficking account for about one-third of all murders.

The US Department of StatesInternational Narcotics Control Strategy Reportreleased

last year noted: Guyana is a transit country for cocaine destined for the United States, Cana-

da, the Caribbean, Europe and West Africa. Cocaine originating in Colombia is smuggled to Ven-

ezuela and onward to Guyana by sea or air.

APNU AT WORK

A WEEKLY SUMMARY OF EVENTS

KEEPING THE DIASPORA INFORMED

February 8-14,2014

Vol. 29


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Smugglers also transit land borders with Brazil, Venezuela, and Suriname. Cocaine is often con-

cealed in legitimate commodities and smuggled via commercial maritime vessels, air transport,

human couriers, or the postal services

The Peoples Progressive Party/Civic Administration has not seriously confronted the challenge of

narcotics-trafficking. It did launch aNational Drug Strategy Master Plannine years ago but

allowed it to peter out without being fully implemented. The National Anti-Narcotics Co-ordinating Secretariat; National Anti-Narcotics Commission; Joint Intelligence Co-ordination Cen-

tre; Joint Anti-Narcotics Committee and Regional Anti-Drugs Units never functioned.

The PPP/C administration over the last decade evaded the establishment of a permanent US

Drug Enforcement Administrationoffice. Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger

Luncheon once announced that a DEA office in Guyana would be welcome, suggesting that

certain details had to be discussed before-hand. Then, former Minister of Home Affairs Ms Gail

Teixeira kept up the jape by saying that talks are ongoing to establish the DEA office. When Mr.

Clement Rohee took over the Ministry, he could say only that he could not pronounce definitively

on the matter.

The lucrative narco-trade is said to earn the equivalent of 20 per cent or more of Guyanas reported

GDP. The lucrative trade, however, also spawns armed gangs which use their wealth to purchase

political influence and suborn the security forces in order to protect their trade. Money-launderers

associated with narcotics-traffickers also distort the domestic economy by pricing their goods and

services below market rates but undermine legitimate businesses.

US INCSRs suggest that, throughout Bharrat Jagdeos presidency, there have not been any large

domestic seizures of cocaine nor has any important member of a narco-trafficking cartel been pun-ished by a court of law.

APNU is alarmed that the recent revelation of the existence of a Guyana-Italy cocaine conspiracy is

evidence of a dangerous deterioration in public security.

APNU is of the view that the prevalence of narco-trafficking is a direct result of the failure of the

Ministry of Home Affairs to implement a credible counter-narcotics strategy, to enforce domestic

laws and to bring traffickers before the courts!

The current Guyana-Italy cocaine conspiracy confirms that Guyana is drifting towards becoming anarco-state. This must not be allowed to happen.


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APNU NEVER REJECTED OFFER MADE BY PRESIDENT DON-ALD RAMOTAR

A Partnership for National Unity firmly denies that the Partnership rejected an offer by President

Donald Ramotar to set up a bilateral committee to deal with the Bills not assented to by him and

which had been approved by the National Assembly. In a Kaieteur News article dated February

14th2014, page 17, which states APNU rejects Presidents offer to set up bilateral commit-tee,Kaieteur News attributes these remarks to the Presidential Advisor on Governance, Ms. Gail

Teixeira, at a post cabinet briefing on Thursday February 13th2014. It is apposite to note that in the

same article Ms. Teixeira is reported as saying that up to yesterday there was no response from the

Political Opposition to a letter sent by President Ramotar to the Leader of the Opposition.APNU has not rejected any offer for bilateral talks on the non- assented bills.In his letter to the President, the Leader of the Opposition was quite clear when he asserted;we

stand ready to meet you as early as possible to discuss, in the spirit of consensus and compromise

the issues arising from our concerns.

International drug arrestsFelix questions Guyanas intelli-gence-gatheringFEBRUARY 14, 2014 | BY KNEWS| FILED UNDER NEWS

By Latoya Giles

Had Guyanas intelligence-gathering been functioning effectively, local security officials wouldhave known that persons with Mafia ties were working with drug traffickers here.

This is the view of Former Police Commissioner and Shadow Home Affairs Minister Winston Felix,who yesterday questioned the efficiency of the countrys intelligence gathering in the wake of themassive drug operation that was uncovered by US and Italian operatives.

Felix also put forth a number of suggestions that he believes would help improve the present situa-tion.

According to Felix, the first recommendation he would put forward is for the internal structures tostart functioning. Felix explained that prior to the current Administration taking office in 1992;there was an anti -narcotic drive in the country since around 1988 when the narcotics act was es-tablished.

He said that structure which was created by the then PNC government, started with the NationalDrug Enforcement Committee. Along the way, more committees were established which dealt withseveral issues. According to Felix, not much use was put to these committees and other similarstructures down the line.
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I think it is important for them to be put in place so that the work of the various agencies like Cus-toms Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU), Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force(GPF) can come into one instead of them going in different directions, Felix stressed.

Felix added that there is need for the strengthening of the local agencies, with regards to both thetechnical and the operational aspects. He explained that the technical aspect refers to issues suchas aircraft monitoring.

The Former Police Commissioner disclosed that so serious is the monitoring criteria that had itbeen in place, persons would have been able to intercept an aircraft in 1993 which flew straightalong the Demerara River and deposited a substantial amount of cocaine at New Lands, beyondLinden. No one knew that the aircraft was in Guyanas airspace, Felix said. Presently we are in noway different because we cannot determine or identify an aircraft that is in our airspace.

Felix noted that the operational aspect also needs to be addressed. He explained that currently theforce is going behind the husslers, rather than the big ones .

Also, there is the need for greater collaboration with other international agencies to get infor-mation from them.

On Wednesday, President Donald Ramotar insisted that Guyana must not and will not become asafe haven for criminals. According to the Head of State, he has instructed the Minister of HomeAffairs Clement Rohee to write to the United States and request information that they probablyhave.

We have also extended to them our full cooperation with dealing on the matter. This country willnot become a safe haven for criminals, President Ramotar stressed.Opposition Leader David Granger, weighing in on the drug bust said that the creation of a link be-tween local narco traffickers and major international drug lords is more than a dangerous develop-ment.

On Tuesday last, news surfaced that more than 20 gangsters were busted in New York for drugtrafficking and other offences. The New York Mafia reportedly conspired with the Italian syndicateto traffic cocaine and heroin stashed in shipments of pineapples, frozen fish and other food.

The shipments traveled through ports in Guyana, where Mexican drug cartel members facilitateddeliveries, prosecutors said. The raids targeted a network of drug smuggling that stretched fromGuyana to Italy to Malaysia to the United States.


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Dr Karen Cummings sworn in as APNU ParliamentarianFEBRUARY 11, 2014 | BY KNEWS| FILED UNDER NEWS

Basil Williams elected Deputy Speaker

There was a major reshuffling in the House yesterday as Dr. Karen Cummings, of the Peoples Na-tional Congress Reform (PNCR), took the oath of Office as a Member of Parliament under the aus-pices of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Basil Williams was elected Deputy Speaker.

The newest Member of Parliament was warmly welcomed by Speaker of the National Assembly,Raphael Trotman, APNU Leader, Brigadier (rtd) David Granger and Prime Minister SamuelHinds.

Prior to the swearing in by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Trotman formally informed theHouse of the resignation of former Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deborah Backer.According to Trotman, when he was informed of Backers resignation he called on the representa-tive of the list, for APNU, Bhiswaishwar Cammie Ramsaroop, to extract a name from that list tobe placed the seat left vacant.

He said that the Guyana Elections Commission(GECOM) yesterday morning informed him that Dr.Karen Cummings would be the person to fill the vacantseat.Leader of the political Opposition, in welcoming thenewest Member of Parliament, told the House, that therepresentative comes with a wealth of experience in themedical field and expressed his confidence in her.

He said that even though the shoes of Backer would behard to fill, Dr. Cummings expertise and commitmentwill more than compensate in seeking the development

of the people of Guyana.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds also had warm words of welcome for Dr. Cummings.Dr. Cummings later told media operatives that she was delighted to know that the leading opposi-tion party is committed to gender equity and women empowerment and women climbing the eco-nomic pyramid.

She said that she looks forward to the deliberations in the House particularly as it relates to consti-tutional reform and looks forward to making a positive contribution and a meaningful input.

She said that as it relates to her pursuits in the House, like her party mantra she too wants goodgovernance and a good life for all at the national level.

Following the swearing in of the Member of Parliament, Speaker Trotman reminded the Housethat there must be a Deputy Speaker elected as soon as possible.

Backer who resigned was elected the Deputy Speaker of the House when the 10th Parliament wasopened.Opposition Chief Whip, Amna Ally, informed Speaker Trotman, that APNU would like to nominateShadow Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams, for the post, which it did.


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The nomination was seconded by Dr. Rupert Roopnarine and when there were no other nomina-tions presented to be considered for the post, Williams was declared Deputy Speaker of the Na-tional Assembly.

The changes in the House yesterday also included a few promotions.APNUs Ronald Bulkan was notably promoted from the backbench to the front bench in the rankand file while Vanessa Kissoon was sent to the backbench of her partys seating arrangement.

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Jennifer Webster, was also promoted to thefront benches.She was moved to the seat once occupied by the then Local Government Minister Ganga Persaud.He resigned his post as Minister effective January 31 last and while he remains a Member of Par-liament was noticeably absent from the sitting yesterday.

Backers resignation a serious blownew Deputy Speaker toagain come from Opposition benches Granger

Kaieteur News, February 8, 2014

The resignation of Deborah Backer, from Parliament and not the Peoples National Congress Re-form (PNCR) as was inadvertently reported yesterday by this publication; is being seen as a seriousblow to A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), of which the PNCR is the largest faction. This isaccording to Leader of both the PNCR and APNU, Brigadier (rtd) David Granger, who yesterdayconfirmed the resignation and said too that a replacement has not yet been formally identified.The resignation took effect yesterday, according to Granger, who said that he received the letter onThursday last and a copy was forwarded to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trot-man.

Backer was the Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister and also served as Deputy Speaker of the NationalAssembly.

Granger said that the coalition is yet to formally decide on who they would nominate to be electedas Deputy Speaker, only to say that it would be from the Opposition benches.Government has continuously lamented this position, arguing that it is a contravention for thegoverning party to be given the position of Speaker and the Opposition was only entitled to the po-sition of Deputy Speaker. Prior to Backers resignation, both portfolios were held by ranks in theOpposition and according to Granger, this status quo will continue.

Meanwhile, asked about who will assume the portfolio of Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister,Granger said he has some formal training in international relations along with Member of Parlia-ment, Africo Selman, and as such in the meantime the two of them will shoulder the responsibilityof the portfolio. As it relates to shifts in the seating arrangement in Parliament, given that Backerwas a front bencher, Granger said that Ronald Bulkan, who is the Shadow Minister with responsi-bility for Local Government and Regional Development will be promoted and moved to the frontline in the Parliamentary rank and file.


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Granger said that Backer did not indicate any role for herself as it relates to her future and the par-ty. As it relates to her replacement, Granger reminded that Backer held a seat in Parliament on be-half of the PNCR and as such her replacement would have to come from that party. Her seat is aPNCR seat, but she had not indicated a role (in the party)she does not hold an executive positionin the party hierarchy at this point in time, said Granger. As it relates to the replacement, he saidthat one has not been identified as yet. We have a caucus with the party leaders and a replacementwould be nominated. This publication understands that it is the former Chairman of the PNCR,Cammie Ramsaroop, who ultimately makes the decision on her replacement, as he is the repre-sentative of the list of candidates.

Granger did not disclose the shortlist of persons being assessed for the position saying that it

would be prejudicial, as only one can be selected.

Meanwhile, in giving his take on the resignation of Backer, the Opposition leader said that it is aserious blow, she was respected.

Granger divulged to the media that Backer was his main advisor on Standing Orders, which are therules and procedures of Parliament. He described her as an industrious and very careful research-

er, a good lawyer and a good political worker. She will be greatly missed and we hope she recoversfrom her present illness and be able to rejoin us in another capacity. Asked about the nature ofher illness, Granger said that it was not for him to disclose and further, he was not informed of it.He said that in her resignation letter, Backer did not identify what her illness was. What he did sayis, I know she is receiving a regimen of treatment.

Backer fell ill in the latter part of last year and had to be hospitalized locally after which she wasflown to a Florida Hospital. Backer, was the serving Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, isalso a well known Attorney-at-Law. She obtained her Legal Education Certificate from the HughWooding Law School in Trinidad in 1983 and a Bachelor of Law from the University of the WestIndies in 1981.

Backer is a member of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) and Vice-Chairman of the PeoplesNational Congress Reform. She has been a Parliamentarian since 1997 and had also served on theGeorgetown City Council in 1994.

Backer is also a serving member of a number of important organisations such as the Lions ClubInternational and is currently an organising member of the Womens Millennium Caucus.

Anti Money Laundering legislationAPNU to further reduce powers ofMinistersFEBRUARY 10, 2014 | BYKNEWS| FILED UNDERNEWS

also amends Principal Act to allow search/seizures not only at ports of entry

If Minister Anil Nandlall recognised the need to reduce the power of Ministers under the amend-ments to the Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill, A Partner-ship for National Unitys, Joseph Harmon, says we must also be able to make changes too.
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Harmon was speaking to this publication following Saturday evenings meet-ing of the Special Select Committee, and said that APNU believes that thereis still too much draconian power in the hands of the Ministers and they willbe looking to have these reduced as well.

Harmon reminded that when the recommendations had first come to Guy-

ana, Nandlall was of the opinion that none of the recommendations were to

be touched as they had been handed down from the Caribbean Financial Ac-tion Task Force (CFATF).

This position by Nandlall, Harmon noted, has changed. The same dayNandlall indicated by way of a statement that there is no different regime ofpowers resided in any officer in the Guyana legislation

which are not given in similar legislation which is extant in countries acrossthe globe.

In fact, I refined many of the recommendations which came from the

CFATF from which the Bill was coined with a view of reducing certain pow-ers which were recommended to reside with Ministers in the Bill.

He cited an example, in the CFATF recommendations, the Attorney Generalwas to have powers to instruct a commercial bank to freeze any account heldat that bank which the Attorney General has reasonable suspicion to believecontains proceeds of crime.

I refined that recommendation to say that the Attorney General must applyex parte to a judge for an order to freeze the account, and must be able to satisfy that judge that hehas credible and reasonable basis to suspect that the account contains proceeds of crime, saidNandlall.

According to Nandlall, I specifically, shifted that power from the Attorney General to a Judge, be-cause I believe that the Executive branch of Government should not enjoy such plenitude of powerover the citizenry as there would be a likelihood of abuse.

APNU holds the position that despite this move by Nandlall, there are several other recommenda-tions that still give the Ministers too much power that can be abused.

Meanwhile following Saturdays meeting, Harmon, said that there is now sig-nificant progress being made at the level of the Committee and pointed to the

fact that apart from the previous position held by Chairperson of the Com-mittee, Gail Teixeira, that they were to only address the Bill and not the sub-stantive Act, this too has now changed.

Harmon said that according to the Substantive Act, Customs and the Finan-cial Intelligence Unit were only allowed to make and effect search and sei-zures at the ports of entry and dealt only with import and export.


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According to Harmon, there is money laundering within the boundaries of Guyana and as such theauthorities should be able to target those as well.He said that to limit this authority to just exports and imports into Guyana was not enough in thefight against Money Laundering.

Harmon told this publication that on Sunday (yesterday) when the Committee would have metagain, APNUs Finance spokesperson would have presented the text of the amendments to thecommittee for adoption.

Harmon said too that another meaningful change that the Committee would be effecting is that on-ly very senior ranks should be allowed to conduct searches and seizures of money with entities andpersons in Guyana.

APNU Executive Member said that this removes the possibility of a junior rank such as a police

constable seizing peoples money under the guise of anti money laundering.

This he said must only be done by these senior ranks and FIU officials, among others.But the move to also amend the existing substantive Act along with the CFATF recommendations

is not sitting well with the Government.

Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, speaking with the state media following the meeting on Satur-day, bemoaned the actions by the Opposition as more delaying tactics at the eleventh hour.

Parliament will meet today but it is unclear whether the Bill will be returned to the House, even asthe Financial Action Task Force (FATF) also begins its review in Paris, France.

Dr. Singh told the state media that the move to also amend the Substantive Act is a blatant and un-disguised attempt to frustrate the passage of the Bill and that it must be condemned.

Meanwhile, Harmon in his update of the work of the Committee said that amendments will also bemade to the sections to deal with the Financial Intelligence Unit as it relates to its composition andthe appointment of its members among other facets of its operations.

Current Money laundering amendments give Ministers outra-geous powers Executive obligated to treat the legislativebranch respectfully- Granger


Proposals put forward in the current Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Ter-rorism Bill, are dangerous in that it places enormous enforcement powers on Ministers of Financeand Legal Affairs; responsibilities which should be with institutions such as the Guyana PoliceForce.

The Minister can have you arrested, the Minister can have your house searched, according toLeader of the Political Opposition, David Granger, who yesterday met with members of the mediaand said that some of the powers proposed for the Ministers in the Bill, are outrageous.


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Granger further charged that as it relates to voting on the Bill in the Full House, A Partnership forNational Unity (APNU) is not prepared to go ahead on measures introduced by the Executivebranch unless it respects the Legislative branch and facilitates the passage into law of some of themeasures already approved by the Legislative branch.

Granger was adamant that the Legislative branch is not going to be toyed with. We are not goingto deliberate on matters and have those matters brushed asidethe Executive have an obligation,

they not doing us a favour, they have an obligation to treat the Legislative branch respectfully.

Granger was at the time being time being grilled by media operatives on the positions taken on theAnti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill, currently at a Special Se-lect Committee.

While Granger would not tie himself to a commitment to missing the upcoming Financial ActionTaskforce (FATF) review, he said that we are working to ensure that the Bill that is before the Se-lect Committee is cleaned up and brought back to the National Assemblyfrom the start we said

however long it takes.According to Granger, as far as we are concerned it is dangerous to proceed with a badly draftedBill.

Asked what would be the fate of the Bill when it is taken back to the House, he reminded of his let-ter to the President and said, When it comes to the National Assembly, the popular vote will de-termine the outcome.

Granger said we are committed to a clean Billas far as my letter to the President is concerned, Idid say APNUs support for certain legislative measures introduced by the Executivebranch would be dependent on the Executives assent to legislative measures which were passed

by the National Assembly.

On the matter of deadlines, the Opposition Leader said that they have heard of many in the pastand that it should be borne in mind that the Government of Guyana under the Peoples ProgressiveParty Civic (PPP/C) has had Anti Money Laundering legislation for 14 years.

Everybody is now talking about deadlines, this matter only came to the National Assembly inApril last year.

He pointed out that nobody is talking about what has been happening between 2000 and 2013.

According to Granger, APNU can produce numerous articles and reports from the United StatesDepartment of State criticizing Guyanas failure to implement the Anti Money Laundering laws,not a single prosecution.

Granger said that APNU understands the importance of Anti Money Laundering and Counteringthe Financing of terrorism.

We took this matter seriously from the first time it was brought before usIt is not an easy mat-ter it is not a matter of approving anything that was put on the table.


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According to the Opposition Leader, it is a matter of making sure the people of Guyana were pro-tected against draconian legislation which could harm their human rights and at the same timepersons who are inclined to laundering money would be prevented from doing so and would bepunished if caught.

Granger was adamant that the existing Anti Money Laundering legislation which has been in exist-ence since 2000, had been ineffectively enforced and as such APNU felt it was their duty to ensurethat the Special Select Committee did its work thoroughly without being rushed and without beingforced to impractical deadlines.

He noted that dossiers have been prepared by individuals such as Professor Clive Thomas, Char-tered Accountant, Christopher Ram, Former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran and the Bar Asso-ciation among others.

Those submissions are important submissions and I am very glad that we did not rush ahead andignore those submissionsthe submissions will contribute to giving the people of Guyana a cleananti money laundering Bill.

Meanwhile, as it relates to the pleadings by bodies such as the Private Sector Commission (PSC)among others, Granger said We are not ignoring any advice, there is a committee considering allof the advice.

He was adamant that the most important thing for the Guyanese people now, 14 years after thefirst Money Laundering legislation would have been signed into law, is to have a clean and effectiveBill and ensure that there is a mechanism in the form of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) capa-ble of enforcing the law.Nobody is going to be fooled by legislation; they want to see enforcement, said Granger and re-minded that there has been no enforcement over the period 2000 to 2013.

Meanwhile, by way of a joint statement yesterday, the American, British and Canadian embassiessaid that their governments are, and will continue to be, actively engaged to support effective im-plementation of the legislation and prosecution of money launderers and financers of terrorism.

We encourage all stakeholders to work together to finalize Anti Money Laundering and Counter-ing the Financing of Terrorism legislation and ensure its effective implementation in order to pre-vent and combat money laundering and terrorist financing, as well as to avoid the serious conse-quences that would arise from black-listing by the CFATF.

Granger maintains position that CJs Budget Cut ruling is

flawedFEBRUARY 9, 2014 | BY KNEWS| FILED UNDER NEWS

The Chief Justice is not divine, he is not omniscient and he could have very wellmade a mistake.A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) does not seek premature election; we are looking for-ward to a full term for tenth Parliament, the life of which will come to an end in 2016. In the meantime we are going to take every reasonable measure to ensure that the country is properly governedand if it means going to a national election we will go to a national election.


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This is according to Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition, Brigadier (rtd) David Granger, whoon Friday maintained that we are not going to put up with the sort of lawlessness that has beenthreatening this country for the last 20 years.

Meanwhile, as it relates to the imminent budget debate and deliberation, Granger maintained thatthe recent ruling by Chief Justice (Ag), Ian Chang, has not changed the policy of APNU as it relatesto how it will treat with the National Estimates.

We do not feel the ruling is applicable to internal workings of the NationalAssembly. We have Standing Orders which have the force of law and we feelthat we will continue to behave as we have behaved in the past.

Granger told reporters that if a matter is brought before the National As-sembly and we are asked whether we disagree or we agree, whether we ap-prove or disapprove, the members of the National Assembly will vote in ac-cordance with the interest of the country, if we disapprove we will say we dis-approve.

According to Granger, I would like to see which court would convert a disap-proval by National Assembly into approvalI would like to see which court

will convert 33 votes into 32 votes.

The Opposition Leader is adamant that the court has no jurisdiction to rule on certain internalmatters affecting the National Assembly. Speaker, Raphael Trotman, will determine what thosematters are.

Granger posited that it is possible that the Chief Justice might be unfamiliar with some aspects ofParliamentary Management and Administration and it is possible that he might have erred.The Chief Justice is not divine, he is not omniscient and he could have very well and made a mis-take, the Opposition Leader suggested.

What I know is that when a matter is brought before the National Assembly and the Speaker putsa question to us, we will vote, and if the Speaker asks us if we approve or if we disapprove we willrecord that approval or disapproval.

Asked about voting down the entire Budget, thus forcing fresh General Elec-tions, Granger explained that that is not how the process works.He said that the estimates are presented item by item in the Committee ofSupply and at the end of the process the Appropriation Bill is voted on.

Granger said that, the Appropriation Bill is the sum total of approvals in the

Committee and that the Finance Minister cannot bring a Bill and includethose items that would have been voted down.

We will not approve an Appropriation Bill if we dont approve of it, warnedGranger.


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Local Government BillAPNU willing to relinquish conditionsrequested


Shadow Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams of the political coalition, A Partnership for Na-tional Unity has expressed that his party is willing to relinquish the provisions they had requested

in the Local Government Bill which President Donald Ramotar had refused to assent to and hadsent back to the Parliament on the basis of unconstitutionality.

The Attorney at Law informed however, that APNU has been unable to make this position pellucidas the Bill has not been brought to the National Assembly.The Member of Parliament made this disclosure during a press briefing held on Thursday last at itshead office on Hadfield Street.

The Shadow Minister reminded that the President had assented to three of the four Local Govern-ment Bills. Those assented to are the Fiscal Transfers Bill 2012, Municipal and District Councils(Amendment) Bill and the Local Government Commission Bill. The Bill not assented to, was the

Local Government (Amendment) Bill.

Williams noted that the Leader of APNU, Brigadier (rtd.) David Granger had written to PresidentDonald Ramotar stating that their support from certain Bills will be withheld if he (President Ra-motar) does not assent to certain Bills and operationalise the ones that were assented to.

He added, We also said that the constitution says that if you dont assent to a Bill you must givereasons. So what has happened to those Bills that he has non-assented to and sent back? Theywere not brought back to the Parliament. It was supposed to be so according to the procedures andwe would make an assessment of what he has said.

We (APNU) believe that he (the President) does not have the power to decide whats constitution-al and whats not but that aside, it has to be sent back to us.

The lawyer noted that the provision requested by the joint Opposition to the Amendment Bill wasone which stated that a Minister could not have the power to take over a local democratic organand that such power should be vested in the Local Government Commission.

The APNU Member said that the coalition has no problem in relinquishing the provisions they hadasked for but added, how can we let them know our position if they dont bring it back to the as-sembly?

We had three provisions but we wont break a lance over those provisions. We could eliminatethose provisions. We are saying that the Minister should have no power to take over no local dem-ocratic organ power and it should be in the Commission but equally the Commission doesnt needthat power, so the three provisions the Government spoke to we dont have a problem with relin-quishing it.


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Granger: Opposition has delivered changeStabroek News, February 9, 2014

By Oluatoyin Alleyne

The opposition has brought about real change, according to Opposition Leader David Granger,who says there has been a strengthened National Assembly and greater scrutiny of the executive

despite constraints.

Granger does not believe that the opposition has scuttled the opportunities presented by its one-seat majority in the National Assembly after the last general elections but charged that one mustfirst look at the context in which the 10th Parliament began, with the biggest issues being the Na-tional Assembly having little autonomy because of the PPP/Cs previous majority and diminishedlevel of accountability by ministers.The opposition has been criticised by many who have charged that it has not strategically utilisedits one-seat majority and that there is little or no progress in any of its initiatives, resulting in nobenefits for those who would have voted for them.

But Granger, who spoke to theSunday Stabroekrecently in a wide ranging interview, said that fora proper assessment of the oppositions performance over the last two years one would first have toexamine the landscape that existed at the beginning of the 10th Parliament. He charged that therewas little autonomy in the National Assembly because of the majority that the ruling party enjoyedbefore the November 28, 2011elections. He said the PPP/C had been in government with a parlia-mentary majority for 20 years and during that time there were widespread abuses, including thedemolition of the role of the National Assembly in which it could have been felt that the Parlia-ment Office was almost being run as a department of the Office of the President.

Granger also pointed out that APNU only has 26 seats, while the AFC has seven and so while com-bined they have a majority, it is held by two separate entities.

We have to negotiate before we vote together. So given those two considerations, that the opposi-tion is really made up two different parties, APNU and AFC, and that the landscape was essentiallyunfavourable, we had to do a lot of groundwork in order to make progress, Granger said. That be-ing said, Granger, who is the leader of both APNU and its main constituent the PNCR, believes thata lot of progress has been made and first among these was the building up of the National As-sembly to the point where the Attorney-General Anil Nandlall has had to take him to court fourtimes, including in regards to reduction of the 2012 budget.

Granger, however, noted that the decision in the case delivered by acting Chief Justice Ian Changhas been criticised as it appears to intrude on the autonomy of the National Assembly. In his re-

cent decision, Justice Chang declared that the National Assembly acted unlawfully and unconsti-tutionally by effecting cuts to the 2012 budget estimates, after finding that its power is limited toeither giving or withholding approval. According to Justice Chang, while the Assembly may ap-prove or not approve the Finance Ministers estimates of expenditure, it has no power to changethem by either reducing or increasing them.


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Granger said the other cases in court clearly demonstrate that the executive branch wants to chal-lenge the authority of the legislative branch.

Asked how soon an appeal would be filed against Changs decision, Granger noted that he was ex-cluded from the case by Chang and while this decision has been appealed, he is no longer an inter-ested party and cannot file an appeal to the final ruling. However, he said he understands thatSpeaker Raphael Trotman will file an appeal against the ruling and in the event that his own ap-peal of his exclusion is successful, they can then seek to have the matter re-committed.

Nevertheless, Granger also argued that accountability of government ministers has beenmarkedly enhanced because the ministers are now called upon to answer questions in greaterdetail and provide more information for the financial papers. It is a refreshing difference, hesaid.

And when measuring the success of the opposition, Granger said it must first be understood thatthe opposition is not the government and persons should not run away with the idea that becauseAPNU and the AFC have the one-seat majority they can do anything.

In fact, the role of the opposition has been defined by convention and by statue in the British par-liamentary system and there are serious limitations to what the opposition can do, particularly inthe area of finance, Granger said.He added that while many have expectations, the opposition cannot take financial papers to theNational Assembly but has to wait until a measure has been brought and having been brought itcan use its voting power to amend but not increase expenditure.

When it was pointed out that the budget cuts have not been effective, that there has been nomarked increase in public servant wages and the Public Procurement Commission is still to be ac-tivated, Granger again reminded that the landscape was not ideal and that the opposition could nottake any financial papers to the Assembly.

On the issue of public servants wages, he said that it is one thing for APNU to declare 2014 theyear for workers but the combined opposition had appealed during the 2013 budget for increasesfor public servants and he has made statements in support of the Guyana Public Service Unioncalling for the government to sit down with the union and arrive at an outcome which is favourableto both sides. The opposition cannot be blamed for that [public servants not receiving significantsalary increase] because we have done what is legally possible to bring about change in that re-gard, Granger stated.

Constrained

Meanwhile, Granger said that the opposition is constrained by not having ready access to counselwho is trained in drafting bills and this is a hindrance to it bringing bills to the National Assembly.We are not the government. We do not have the resources to draft bills, Granger said, addingthat the absence of counsel has been a major stumbling block to the opposition drafting bills.


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He added that when the opposition has succeeded in drafting and passing bills, the governmenthas resisted them. President Donald Ramotar even before seeing the bills declared that he wouldnot assent to bills in which the executive has not had input.

Granger pointed out that the opposition does not have the staff, experts or a large body of civilservants at its disposal and that has been another constraint. But in light of these challenges, hebelieves the opposition has still made progress because they have been able to tap into expertiseand when measures are brought before us which we feel are opaquewe have been able to get ad-vice or recommendations from stakeholders and from civil society.

He said the advice given informed their decisions on the now almost dead Amaila Falls project andadvice was also received on the Skeldon Sugar Factory and the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan In-ternational Airport.

Former government minister Dr Henry Jeffrey, who had endorsed APNU during the last elections,has recently accused APNU of adopting useless strategies, such as the call for the enhancement ofthe city and a social contract. Asked about recent criticisms, Granger noted that the partnership isgoverned by what is the public interest. He revealed that the partnership meets as a Cabinet andreceives advice and considers the problems facing them. Jeffrey, who made his criticisms in his

weekly column in the Stabroek News, had also suggested that the partnership consider other ac-tions, such as protests, but Granger said they do not believe the time is right for that.

Even though Jeffrey criticised the call by APNU for a social contract as a means of attaining an in-clusionary democracy, Granger said the partnership feels there is an opportunity and an openingfor labour, government, opposition, private sector and civil society to sit together and make thepresent dispensation work. He said the social contract strategy should be given a chance to work.

Simply going on the streets will not solve City Halls problems but we need, as a nation, to com-bine the energies of government, opposition, labour, employers and civil society to hammer out asocial contract so that over the next two years or more of the life of the 10th Parliament we can

work in a consensual way, Granger argued.

Has not failedAsked what were the major failures of APNU and the joint opposition, Granger said that partner-ship has not failed and that it is the executive branch of government which has been recalcitrantand which has failed to behave in a publicly responsible manner.

He pointed out that APNU has embraced the education system, employment for young people, andpublic security, among others, which he said all signify failures on part of the government.

In keeping with the role of the opposition to scrutinise and to demand actions on the part of the

government, APNU has stood out and APNU has brought about real change, Granger said.

He further said that he could not think of any policy line that APNU has followed which was not inthe public interest and which could be said to have failed and according to him the partnershiphas had a positive two years.


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Meanwhile, Granger said the joint opposition has not had consultation about the upcoming budgetbecause there is no budget before them. When this is unveiled, he said, they would collaborateand cooperate on a strategy.

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Diaspora News - February 8 - 14, 2014

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