Hundreds turned out in Woodford Square, Port of Spain, Saturday to hear politicians, community and trade union leaders and activists denounce the new property tax and demand that the government rescind what they call a measure that is no more than a tax grab against poor people. The rally was organized by the Congress of the People (COP) as part of its drive to collect 200,000 signatures to present to the government as evidence of the public's rejection of the tax.
The new measure takes effect in January and imposes a three per cent tax on the rateable value of residential properties.
COP calls it an unfair tax on homeowners, especially those who have retired and would be unable to find the money to pay what it calls an exorbitant tax.
COP deputy leader Prakash Ramadhar made it clear that while his party hosted the rally it was a national matter, not a politically partisan one.
COP political leader Winston Dookeran made a call for united action and national leadership, noting that the rally was the beginning of a new order of governance in the country.
“Let us stand firm. Let us stand brave. Let us stand tall and come together in the north to the plains of central and let us stand together as one people.” Dookeran said.
One speaker at the rally caused a stir not because of what he said, but because of who he represented.
Prominent Laventille People's National Movement (PNM) activist Mc Donald Padmore spoke at the rally and told the audience while he remains a PNM supporter he cannot support the new tax.
“I am a supporter of the PNM Government, but when I see certain things taking place I cannot sit down as a voice of the voiceless and ain’t say nothing,” he said.
Padmore warned that he would become "a sacrificial lamb" for standing up with the opposition. “I know they coming down on me you know...But Jesus Christ never die because he was a bad man. He died because he was good.
"I know what going on. They will be mad at me. But, I can’t sit down because your belly full and you not studying the hungry man. You eh care about nobody and when people talking all yuh not listening," Padmore told the rally.
Padmore insisted that he could not let the government proceed with the tax because of its far-reaching implications for a wide cross-section of citizens.
“PNM people was affected. UNC people was affected. COP people was affected. Everybody was affected,” he said, adding that his party has now stopped listening to the voices of the people.
“As a member of the PNM I could never sit down and see what going on in Trinidad and Tobago,” he said, as he accused the government of exploiting the people for political gain.
“You will come back for the same voices who you are abusing in the ghetto. Look at the East-West Corridor, which one of the stronghold of the PNM highly-developed? None. No sporting facilities. Nothing and you want to come now and tell people you have to pay for this and pay for that,” Padmore said.
Padmore made an impassioned appeal for unity, which was the message the rally heard from all participants.
The crowd included COP, PNM, UNC and NJAC activists as well as Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) leader Ashworth Jack, Ortoire/Mayaro MP Winston “Gypsy” Peters, One Voice chairman Inshan Ishmael and representatives from the labour movement and civil society.
Peters, who sang his "Sinking Ship" calypso, told the rally Trinidad and Tobago is under siege.
"We are faced with a Government that some of you here, I am sure, voted into power, believing that they had what it takes to take us out of the trouble, any trouble we may find ourselves in. But behold, what we got was them paying us back with ungratefulness for our gratefulness," Peters said.
The trade union movement called for a two-day protest on Monday and Tuesday, urging people to stay at home to register their dissatisfaction with the government's tax measure.
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