Turmoil in and out the House

These included the refusal of the Opposition to support the passage of critical FATCA legislation in Parliament, the outcome of the November 28, 2016 Local Government Elections, and the setting of the date for the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections.
Political reporter CLINT CHAN TACK continues a review of these and the other political stories that made the news in 2016.

FATCA stalemate

Utter contempt. This was the position of Leader of Government Business in the House of Representatives, Camille Robinson- Regis, as she strongly condemned the Opposition for choosing to blank debate on the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) legislation on December 12, for the third time. The Opposition MPs had chosen instead to occupy a room outside of the main parliamentary Chamber from where they viewed the one-sided debate on television with the government speaking to empty chairs opposite “It is indeed passing strange that on three occasions, those in opposition to us have determined they should not participate in this debate,” Robinson-Regis declared. She reminded government MPs that when their counterparts walked out on December 9, “they indicated they were doing so in solidarity” with Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Naparima MP Rodney Charles when who had openly challenged Speaker Bridgid Annisette- George’s decision to deny their leader’s request to adjourn the House as a matter of urgent business to discuss what Persad- Bissessar described as government’s failure to address an unprecedented number of murders and missing persons in TT .

Finance Minister Colm Imbert did a sequel of his challenge to the former People’s Partnership (PP) government to “come outside”, baiting the Opposition this time to, “come inside” and debate the Tax Information Exchange Bill 2016 which is critical to TT ’s FAT CA compliance with the United States. Imbert declared “I appeal to them again as I appealed in the past -I appeal to the members opposite again -come downstairs.

Come inside!” Government MPs thumped their desks in support as Imbert continued, “Come inside! Why are you outside? They should come inside...

This is the people’s house. Don’t be cowards. What are you hiding for? Come inside!” In 2015, when the then Opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) walked out on debate on a no-confidence motion against then Opposition Leader, Dr Keith Rowley, Imbert challenged the PP to “come outside”, and say what they had to say.

While the Government this time around made several amendments to the FAT CA legislation to address the very concerns which the Opposition had raised, the Opposition offered no amendments of its own. Persad- Bissessar maintained the Opposition’s demand to send the legislation - the same measures approved by her former administration - to a Joint Select Committee (JSC) of the Parliament.

The Bankers’ Association and other business groups agreed with the Government that the legislation did not require a JSC.

They also slammed the Opposition for saying the legislation was not important. Imbert, who managed to obtain an extension of the FAT CA deadline, said it was not likely that TT would get a third extension from the US, if the legislation is not passed by February 2017 to allow the country to meet its first FAT CA reporting deadline of September 30.

Imbert also signed the inter- government agreement (IGA) on FAT CA on August 19. The House of Representatives sits on January 6, to resume committee deliberations on the FAT CA legislation.

Local Government Elections The ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) won the November 28 Local Government Elections, capturing seven of the 14 local government corporations, ceding six to the opposition United National Congress (UNC), with a tie between the two parties for the for the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation.

While various bodies and commentators speculated the voter turnout for the elections was between 17 to 20 percent, the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) eventually revealed an overall voter turnout of 34 percent, prompting the Prime Minister to tell a post-election media briefing that those groups touting the 17 percent turn out as not having reliable data to make a proper assessment of the voter turnout and that the analysis they were doing was, “pontification without the data.” PNM Public Relations Officer, Stuart Young, observed at that same media briefing that local election turnouts are usually less than those in general elections, adding, “This 34 percent is within expected parameters.” Rowley also declared at that briefing that the PNM was right to say it controlled the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation.” Once the results were clear enough to us and we sought proper legal advice,” the Prime Minister said. “We got it, and as soon as we got it, we made that advice available to the public.” Saying the UNC reacted as expected, Rowley declared, “The fact of the matter is that under law, we retain the chairmanship and control of the Sangre Grande Corporation, not by any favour and not by any coalition.” The UNC did not share this view. On December 15, the party’s councillors and aldermen walked out of the swearing-in ceremony for aldermen of the corporation accusing the PNM of thuggery. The PNM maintained that the law was on its side. The UNC said it would consider whether it would challenge in court the legality of the PNM’s Terry Rondon remaining as corporation chairman.

While local government reform was the main issue advanced by the PNM during the campaign, allegations of a “wives’ club” under the PNM obtaining lucrative contracts, and revelations of exorbitant and unnecessary expenditure under the former People’s Partnership (PP) coalition stole the spotlight.

The latter was highlighted in the “roti wars” which spilled from the political platforms to the floor of the Parliament. On November 18, Prime Minister Rowley revealed his predecessor, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, hosted a Divali function at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s on October 16, 2014 which cost taxpayers $1,677,719.79. The Prime Minister made this disclosure in response to a question from Persad-Bissessar’s former aide, Princes Town MP Barry Padarath, about a $350,000 bill for roti. As Rowley gave his answer, Padarath shouted across the floor at him three times, prompting Deputy Speaker Esmond Forde to eject Padarath from the Chamber for 15 minutes.

The PNM subsequently made the invoices for the Divali event public, bringing the issue to a close. The Opposition pondered their next move on FATCA and the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation as the year ended.

Spy bill passed Legislation giving more powers to the Strategic Services Agency (SSA) was passed in the Senate after two Independent Senators – Ian Roach and temporary senator Justin Junkere – broke ranks from their colleagues and supported the measure in a 17 – 12 division. Passage of the legislation came notwithstanding serious concerns by seven of the nine Independent Senators, two of whom had called for the legislation to be withdrawn. On a night of high drama, Opposition and Independent Senators forced five divisions on normally simple procedural motions which had been tabled by the Government in order to move the legislation closer to a vote. In wrapping up the debate, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi told Senators the Solicitor General, Carol Hernandez, had advised that the legislation did not require a three-fifths majority, but he did not release her opinion prior to the debate. Al-Rawi also said the bill was key to anti-terrorism collaboration with unnamed international bodies.

On November 2, Finance Minister Colm Imbert made it “crystal clear” he never announced a wage freeze for public servants. Addressing a news conference at the Eric Williams Financial Complex in Port-of-Spain, following the release of a story on CNC3 which stated he made a wage freeze announcement at the 2016 High Level Caribbean Forum at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, earlier in the day, Imbert said, “The word I used was wage restraint, not wage freeze.

“Wage restraint is a long way away from a wage freeze,” the Finance Minister posited.

“There is a fine line in all of these things and one has to be very, very careful in interpretation.” Telling reporters he was alerted to the erroneous CNC3 story by a member of a major trade union and asked to clarify this statement, Imbert declared, “The PNM Government has no policy of a wage freeze. That in any event would have to be a Cabinet decision.

No single minister can make a decision like that without Cabinet agreement.” $53 billion Budget In presenting a $53.4 billion 2016/2017 Budget in Parliament on September 30, Finance Minister Colm Imbert rolled out a series of money-making measures which touched both the rich and poor.

Millionaires will face a new 30 percent tax rate, although their yachts will be VAT free.

Consumers of booze and tobacco are likely to have a bad hangover, with import duties going up by 15 and 20 percent respectively.

Measures in the budget included a 15 percent increase in the price of diesel bringing it to $2.30 per litre, up from $1.98. Online shoppers remain stuck with a seven percent internet shopping levy.

At the same time, 120,000 households with electricity bills of $300 or less will receive a 25 percent rebate, and talented entrepreneurs will get a $1 million grant, presumably exempt from the new millionaire tax which applies to persons with incomes of $1 million or more per year.

When he presented the Mid-Year Review in Parliament on April 9, Imbert said TT can no longer operate “with Champagne taste and Mauby pocket,” and the burden of adjustment must be spread across society. He announced a series of measures designed to increase revenue and curb expenditure.

In addition to the increase in fuel prices and seven per cent levy on online purchases, there were increased taxes on luxury cars, tobacco and alcohol, and steps to amplify collection of taxes from the gaming industry. Imbert also promised public servants half of their arrears by June and outlined options for the outstanding amount during September or 2017.

Politicians have talent Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Stuart Young, Housing Minister Randall Mitchell and government senator Rohan Sinanan in showed off their Bollywood singing talents when they serenaded Divali Queen contestants at a Divali function hosted by the PNM at Constantine Park in Macoya in October. UNC Couva North MP Ramona Ramdial criticised the performance as insulting.

Sign and wine Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro on December 5 celebrated the signing of a cross-border energy deal by dancing, wining and even being in a conga line with women dressed in bright, colourful clothing at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas.

Maduro and Rowley signed three agreements for: I) A supply of natural gas from Venezuela to TT from Camp Dragon; II) Shell Venezuela and Pdvsa entering in negotiations to evaluate opportunities to reduce gas flaring in northern Monagas state, and; III) Agreement to obtain financing for a joint venture to encourage increased oil production.

Hanging still the law As the country continued to grapple with violent crimes, particularly murders, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi said on December 12, “I can guarantee you that the current law of TT is that the death penalty is to be applied for murder and we certainly intend to apply the law and it is something that I have been tracking for one year straight.” In making this declaration, Al Rawi also disclosed, “There are 32 people on Death Row right now. Those cases, I’ve been tracking since I came into office. Of that 32, none of them are in a position to meet the hangman.” Underscoring that, “under the laws of TT, the punishment for murder...a conviction of murder is that you shall hang until you are dead,” Al Rawi cited various reasons why none of these persons can be executed at this time.

Manning not a racist On July 14, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley took offence to claims made by Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha Secretary General, Sat Maharaj that former prime minister Patrick Manning, who died on July 2, was a racist.” In dismissing all of Maharaj’s claims and setting the record straight with the facts as known to him and in the public domain, Rowley said, “I do not appoint myself as defender of Patrick Manning but as defender of the public record.” Clico report sent to DPP Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard SC in July advised Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley that no part of the Sir Anthony Colman Report into Clico can be made public. This is due to an investigation by the Office of the DPP into matters referred to in the report, which started under the former Kamla Persad-Bissessar administration.

Speaking on the matter at a post-Cabinet news conference at the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair on July 28, Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Stuart Young reminded reporters that the report was sent by President Anthony Carmona to Rowley on June 23.

He said subsequent deliberations by the Cabinet resulted in the report “being sent to the DPP for advice on what can come out of the report into the public and whether there were any investigations undergoing.” He explained that the DPP, “in a private and confidential manner, has indicated to the Prime Minister that there is an investigation on going.” Kids with guns On October 11, amidst Opposition claims that photos exist of persons resembling children of top Government officials holding firearms looking like those commonly used by the Defence Force, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi could not ascertain if those featured in these photos were his children, but admitted members of his family have undergone “threat assessment” training at Cumuto Army Base as part of security protocols for families of State officials deemed to be at high risk.

Al-Rawi held a news briefing outside Parliament after Oropouche MP Dr Roodal Moonilal told MPs, during the Budget debate in the House of Representatives, that he possessed photographs that he would like to show to Al Rawi to see if he (the AG) recognised anyone. Al Rawi later told reporters Moonilal was “reprehensible” for bringing youngsters into the political fray. Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley criticised members of the national security services for the leakage of the pictures to the media.

Tobago goes to the polls The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections will be held on January 23, a notice issued on December 15 from the Office of the Prime Minister indicated.

The notice said that Nomination Day for the THA election will be on January 3.

In November, THA Chief Secretary, Orville London, issued a statement to correct what he said was “false and misleading information” being circulated by some political parties in the island that the date for the election was not being released because of influence from Trinidad.

London said contrary to the false information being circulated, under the THA Act, “The President, after consultation with the Prime Minister and the Chief Secretary, shall fix the date of a primary election, which date shall not be earlier than expiration of two months after the dissolution of the Assembly nor later than the expiration of three months after that dissolution”.

The PNM currently holds all 12 seats in the THA. The main contenders expected to challenge the PNM in the Tobago polls are the Tobago Forwards led by former PP minister Christlyn Moore and the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) led by Public Services Association president Watson Duke.