UNC: Govt incompetence on FATCA

Persad-Bissessar said Government’s disingenuous intention and dishonesty are ironically exposed by their own words, in a letter dated September 21, 2016, to then US Ambassador to TT John Estrada.

Persad-Bissessar said in that letter, Finance Minister Colm Imbert told Estrada, “The Government and the Opposition approved a motion to carry over the Bill in the next session of the House upon the resumption of Parliament.

The effect of this move is that the proceedings on the Bill will be resumed in the new session of Parliament due to commence on September 23, 2016.” She said Government must provide an explanation as to why they misled the country and did not agree to the establishment of the JSC at the sitting of the Parliament on September 9, 2016, when the position of the Opposition was made known.

Persad-Bissessar also said Government, “must honestly tell the country why they waited from September 2016 to January 2017 - almost four months - to establish the JSC rather than resort to blaming the Opposition for their delay and incompetence.” She boasted that the country has now seen the wisdom of the Opposition’s call for a JSC, has resulted in,” better law with improved protection and security in the best interest of the people of TT.”