[UPDATED] Hinds: Some people don't want their assets looked at

LAVENTILLE West MP Fitzgerald Hinds has questioned what is the Opposition’s issue with the planned TT Revenue Authority (TTRA) and whether it was because people did not want their assets scrutinised.

He was contributing to budget debate in the House on Friday and responding to Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who had said a “new UNC government” would not proceed with the TTRA but instead strengthen institutions such as the Board of Inland Revenue.

Hinds said Persad-Bissessar “unashamedly told us that they would scrap the TTRA.

“I don’t know what is their issue. It may be some persons in the country have assets and income and money they don’t want a close look at. I don’t know what they have with the TTRA.”

Hinds recalled at the spotlight on the budget event on Thursday, representatives from the TT Chamber of Commerce and the TT Manufacturers’ Association made it clear from a business perspective that the TTRA was useful and good for TT.

“Because they consider it unfair some people pay taxes and some don’t, and the current arrangements allowed for that.”

He said Persad-Bissessar also announced the new administration would scrap the property tax, though “some of them have places in Miami paying (taxes for).”

He said both the TTRA and property tax will provide greater revenues for the economy.

“They want to scrap it. We know the motives behind that.”

He said if the Government raises taxes it is a problem for the Opposition, and they complain when the Government borrows that it is raising debt, and also complain about taking money out of the Heritage and Stabilisation Fund.

“The same people every minute demanding goods and services from mother TT. That will only take revenue to do.”

He described the budget as a work of art and Persad-Bissessar’s contribution as “incoherent.”

Hinds said Persad-Bissessar’s announcement that her new administration would reduce corporation tax and thereby give up revenue was “just desperate campaigning and clinging.”

He added: “She is just trying to win friends in the national community – to bite them again.”

He also hit the “hypocrisy” of a release from the UNC criticising the planned acquisition of the former Petrotrin refinery by the OWTU and its company Patriotic. Hinds said he was not aware of former Petrotrin workers committing suicide, as Persad-Bissessar had reported, but if it was true it was a sad state of affairs. He added, however, he was almost certain there had been no serious enquiry as to how many people committed suicide, and it had been mentioned in a glib way.

Hinds said he saw a former Petrotrin worker who is operating a food outlet in San Fernando and was doing quite well. He added people were also now living with joy and hopes and prospects for the new arrangement with Patriotic.

“So there is a lot of hope and a lot of happiness. The Member for Siparia is a killjoy at Christmas.”

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

LAVENTILLE West MP Fitzgerald Hinds has questioned what is the Opposition's issue with the planned TT Revenue Authority (TTRA).

He also asked whether it was because people did not want their assets scrutinised.

He was contributing to budget debate in the House on Friday and responding to Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

Persad-Bissessar had said a "new UNC government" would not proceed with the TTRA but instead strengthen institutions such as the Board of Inland Revenue.

Hinds said Persad-Bissessar "unashamedly told us that they would scrap the TTRA.

"I don’t know what is their issue. It may be some persons in the country have assets and income and money they don’t want a close look at. I don’t know what they have with the TTRA.”

Hinds recalled at the spotlight on the budget event on Thursday, representatives from the TT Chamber of Commerce and the TT Manufacturers' Association made it clear from a business perspective that the TTRA was useful and good for TT.

"Because they consider it unfair some people pay taxes and some don’t, and the current arrangements allowed for that."

He said Persad-Bissessar also announced the new administration would scrap the property tax, though "some of them have places in Miami paying (taxes for)."

He said both the TTRA and property tax will provide greater revenues for the economy.

"They want to scrap it. We know the motives behind that."