Controversial property bill passes House, goes to Senate next week

The House of Representatives in Trinidad and Tobago on Monday passed the controversial pieces of legislation to amend tax laws to introduce a new regime of property taxation beginning January 1, 2010. The legislation did not require a special majority and passed without opposition support.

Read the story: New T&T property tax to be based on rental value
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Click here for extensive TT media coverage of the debate

A group called People's Democracy has been staging demonstrations against the tax. Last Friday when the government introduced the bills in the House of Representatives there was a confrontation between police and dozens of protesters.

Police arrested prominent trade unionist David Abdullah and charged him with obstruction.

Read the editorial: No justification for Friday's police brutality

Abdullah appeared in court Monday to answer the charge but the matter was a adjourned to January 13 when the Court will rule whether it will be submitted to the High Court as a constitutional motion.

Members of the People's Democracy cancelled a planned demonstration and chose to sit in the Public Gallery during the debate that ended at 9:30 p.m.