Imbert hits UNC – Look to your members for expensive cars

FINANCE Minister Colm Imbert used his budget wind-up on Wednesday to raise questions over vehicle purchases by two Opposition MPs – Pointe-a-Pierre MP David Lee and Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal – as he pointed to hypocrisy in the UNC’s call for a cap on tax breaks enjoyed by government MPs.

He alleged that Lee had bought a vehicle described as “A four-litre Mercedes-Benz AMG G63 valued $2.3 million.” Imbert alleged that to do this, Lee as an MP accessed $1.4 million worth of tax and duty concessions.

“Four times more than the benefits accessed by most other MPs!” Imbert stormed. He claimed Lee’s car was “the most expensive car of all MPs', probably in the history of this Parliament!”

He claimed Lee hardly ever drives to Parliament, if at all.

He also alleged that a luxury car was imported straight from New Zealand, not through the local agent in TT.

“It begs the question whether such an approach to such an expensive car purchase avoids the requirement for submission of a declaration of source of funds to the FIU (Financial Intelligence Unit), because if you go through a local car dealer you have to fill out a source of funds. But if you bring it in straight, you may not have to do that.”

Imbert also generally asked who should have use of such vehicles. “This is a general question, not thrown particularly at the Member for Pointe-a-Pierre.

“If a car is purchased by an MP with a substantial benefit in kind such as $1.4 million in tax concessions, but is used almost exclusively by an unrelated private citizen, from day one, is that not a breach of the spirit, purpose and intent of travel benefits afforded to MPs?”

St Augustine MP Khadijah Ameen rose to object but Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George told Imbert to proceed.

Newsday was later unable to contact Lee for a response.

Imbert then turned to Moonilal, who previously told government MPs he would surrender all of his new vehicle tax break privileges if they would do the same.

“The Member for Oropouche East, an Opposition MP, on a salary of just $17,000 per month, with no other obvious source of income, has purchased a Jaguar and a Mercedes-Benz within the last three years, and has the temerity to ‘throw shade’ at the rest of us!”

Moonilal, in a text message to Newsday later, said he does not own a yacht, alluding to Imbert’s ownership of such a vessel.

“Initially I wanted to buy a yacht as minister, but I chose a smaller-engine vehicle. The record is clear. I sell one and buy another,” Moonilal said.

“I am both a doctor and a lawyer, in addition to being a regional labour consultant. Only the PNM don’t recognise my qualifications. It is Roodal Moonilal, BSc, LLB, LEC, MA and PhD. Tell Imbert to ‘take that!’”

The budget debate resumes on Friday at 1.30 pm when the House, which went into Standing Finance Committee stage on Wednesday evening, after Imbert’s wind-up, will examine and consider estimates contained in the Appropriation Bill.