NY politicians in hot water over TT trip

MEMBERS of the New York City Council who enjoyed an all-expenses paid trip to Trinidad and Tobago last year, have landed in hot water for failure to report the excursion on financial  disclosure forms released on Monday. According to a report in the New York Daily News, Councilman James Sanders and Councilwoman Diana Reyna said the trip was organised and sponsored by the West Indian-American Day Carnival Association, the New York-based group responsible for the huge Brooklyn parade every Labour Day.

“They made all the arrangements. They paid for everything,” Sanders said. “I will do whatever it takes to comply with the law. There was no attempt to evade it,” Sanders added. “Hopefully, I won’t have to pay a fine.” Reyna said the trip lasted for “five to seven days,” but she never received a breakdown of expenses. Both Reyna and Sanders said the freebies included airfare, lodging, ground transportation and some food. “I’m not trying to hide anything,” said Reyna, who was photographed at the Carnival celebration wearing a festive feather headpiece and a revealing costume.

New York’s Conflicts of Interest Board requires elected officials to report any gifts or expense reimbursements that total $1,000 or more. Also on the TT trip were Council members Kendall Stewart and Yvette Clarke, both Democrats from Brooklyn. Stephen Sigmund, the Council’s communications director, said: “We’ll work with the members to get a ruling from the board, and if the board determines the trip must be reported, of course, they’ll make an appropriate amendment.”