JSC still meeting

Sources yesterday indicated the leaking of Persad-Bissessar’s letter to Trump could undermine the work of the parliamentary joint select committee (JSC), which the Opposition demanded, to deal with the Tax Information Exchange Agreement 2016. The bill is critical to this country being FATCA compliant.

Imbert said,”The JSC on the tax information exchange bill, also known as the FATCA bill, is still meeting.” He continued, “It would not be proper to speak about this until the committee completes its work.” The committee is due to report to the House of Representatives on February 3. When Government bowed to the Opposition’s request for a JSC in the House on January 6, Imbert said that a vote will be taken on the bill on February 3.

Well-placed sources added, “The leaking of this letter while the JSC is still meeting, sets a bad precedent and could undermine the work of the committee. The committee comprises Imbert (chairman); Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi; Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young; Port-of-Spain South MP Marlene McDonald; Caroni East MP Dr Tim Gopeesingh; Caroni Central MP Dr Bhoe Tewarie; Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon; Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat; Government Senator W Michael Coppin; Opposition Senator Gerald Ramdeen and Independent Senators Hugh Russell Ian Roach and Taurel Shrikissoon.

The January 13 letter, in which Persad-Bissessar asked Trump to state his position on FATCA, was not provided to Newsday. In the letter, Persad-Bissessar referred to comments, reportedly made by Republican Senators Rand Paul and Mark Meadows, about repealing FATCA. She indicated to Trump that the JSC was about to begin work on the bill and, “it would be very helpful for us to know if the relevant US law may soon be nullified either by legislative or executive action or both.” The Republicans have the majority in both the US House of Representatives and the Senate.