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COP CHAIRMAN, ROY AUGUSTUS CONDEMNS TTRA DEBATE | | COP Editorial | | Author: | | Date: 2010-04-11 12:04:49 |
| Having just reviewed the damning report of the Uff Inquiry into UDECOTT and the construction sector, Roy Augustus, Chairman of the Congress of the People, says the entire nation is amazed at the bold-facedness of this administration in seeking to impose the TTRA on our long suffering citizens and public workers.
"We have witnessed with horror the lack of accountability and even the outright defiance by the managers of the special purpose state enterprises who we now know are not legally bound to follow ministerial orders and guidelines" said Mr. Augustus.
"Under the model of special purpose state companies as implemented here, absolute control over their operations is handed to an executive appointed by the administration and answerable to no-one" Mr. Augustus commented.
In the face of recent exposures and grave concerns expressed by all right thinking persons, the Government is now about to hand over the collection of all state revenues to just such an enterprise. The country needs to prepare itself for UDECOTT style scandals,
mismanagement and possible corruption on a scale hitherto unseen in this land.
The introduction of the TTRA is a seriously retrograde step for us economically and deeply damaging to the concept of openness and accountability in the discharge of public duties in this most important task of collecting roughly 50 billion TT$ annually.
Then of course there is the manner in which workers are being forcibly removed from their jobs with only those approved by the new management, themselves appointed by the political establishment being retained. Not only do we expect UDECOTT type behaviour but we should also stand by for a Revenue Authority with the power to investigate and pursue any citizen being led by a complete slate of political appointees operating with total disregard and contempt for the public good just like the former Board at UDECOTT.
The COP wishes to state very forcefully, its opposition to this blatant politicization of a key component of our economy. The TTRA will result in less effective collection of much needed government revenues and political victimization of tax paying citizens through the misuse of investigative and other powers by executives of the PM's choosing.
ROY AUGUSTUS
Chairman
Congress of the People
Congress Operations Centre
Charlieville
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