UNC: Govt reckless with FATCA

Caroni Central MP Dr Bhoe Tewarie made the charge at a news conference at the Opposition Leader’s Office in Port-of-Spain, in response to statements by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley at a People’s National Movement (PNM) meeting in Mt D’or on Tuesday night.

Tewarie also agreed with an earlier statement issued by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar calling for Parliament to establish a joint select committee (JSC) to deal with the Tax Information Exchange Bill 2016 tomorrow, when the Second Session of the 11th Parliament opens.

Persad-Bissessar, who did not attend the briefing, denied what she said were Rowley’s claims that she was being obstructionist on the issue of ensuring TT is FATCA compliant.

Underscoring Persad-Bissessar’s previous commitment to a JSC, ensuring the Bill is passed and TT is FATCA compliant, Tewarie rejected Rowley’s argument that the Opposition does not care about the country.

Stating the Opposition could select its members from the House of Representatives and the Senate to sit on this JSC, Tewarie declared, “Nobody wants to pass the Bill more than the Opposition.”