Kamla calls emergency meeting of UNC executive, caucus

Political Leader of the United National Congress (UNC) Kamla Persad Bissessar has called an emergency meeting of the party's national executive for Tuesday afternoon at the Rienzi Complex. This will be followed by a meeting of the Parliamentary caucus.

Persad-Bissessar wants to discuss with top party officials the developments at Couva North, where all members of the constituency executive resigned, saying they are unable to work with their MP, Basdeo Panday.

Read the story: Revolt against Panday from Couva North

She also wants to discuss matters relating to the proposed Trinidad and Tobago Revenue Agency (TTRA), including the debate in Parliament on the bill to establish the agency. That debate is scheduled for Wednesday.

Persad-Bissessar is of the opinion that since the TTRA bill seeks to privatise core functions of government, it would require more than a three fifths majority. The vote of maverick PNM MP Keith Rowley is critical to passing the bill.

Persad-Bissessar said the bill would not directly affect 2,000 Customs and Inland Revenue workers and have an impact on the whole country.

She told reporters Tuesday the bill is flawed because making the revenue collection agency private it is placing the country's revenue function in the hands of a person appointed by the Minister.

"This goes against the grain of everything we hold dear when we talk about checks and balances in a democracy," she said. In addition, she noted that when such power is placed in a private entity with a CEO appointed by a politician there is the potential for victimisation and injustice.

She also expressed concern over the national security function that will be taken out of the control of the Customs and Excise Division.

"These powers cannot be placed in the hands of a private entity. If that were the case, we should privatise the Prime Minister," she said.

The UNC leader added that a government must not take core functions and place it in the hands of individuals with no checks and balances.