PPP says it is aware of the Opposition’s connection to drug lords and criminal gangs

By Kurt Campbell

[www.inewsguyana.com] – People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary and Minister with responsibility for security, Clement Rohee has announced that the party is aware of the opposition’s connection to drug lords and violent criminal gangs.

Rohee made the statement at a press conference on Tuesday morning (February 4) where he further posited that the opposition continues to delay the passage of the amendments to the Anti – Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill since it is protecting the vested interest of a few whose operations and survival will be affected if the Bill is passed.

“The question is why would opposition parties who aspire to be an alternative government and who depend on their supporters, the business sector and the international community not only for financial support but for their political survival will want to withhold their support from a measure if not supported will have a crippling effect on those whom they depend upon for their survival? Rohee questioned.

According to him, the Opposition’s slothfulness towards the passage of the Bill confirms the Government’s worst fear, makes no political sense and is devoid of logic.

“The majority has been penetrated, infiltrated and represent the interest of criminal cartels at the expense of their own supporters, people and countries and we have no doubt that they are doing so for a reward” Rohee said, adding that “we know that a former PNCR Member of Parliament is currently serving a prison sentence in the United States for conspiring to blow up the John F Kennedy Airport and his operations at Linden have been taken over by another member.”

When asked then why has the Party and more so as the Minister with responsibility for security did not go after these elements in the opposition who are allegedly connected to criminal activity, Rohee’s response was that the absence of these amendments are preventing them from doing so.

When furthered quizzed about existing legislation and its ability to apprehend and prosecute these persons and criminal activities who the party claims it is aware of, Rohee refused to comment.

He did state however, that the PPP will do all it can both locally and internationally to draw attention to this situation.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in its latest ranking of countries in terms of its Description: untitled level of delinquency for implementing measuring to fight money laundering and the financing of terrorism has ranked Guyana as the highest.

According to Rohee, this means that Guyana is most likely to be identified for an International Co-operation Review Group (ICRG) review by FATF at their meeting in mid-February unless; the Bill is passed in the National Assembly.