PSA to join opposition to fight against new TT revenue agency

Opposition MPs Jack Warner and Roodal Moonilal met Monday afternoon with the President of the Public Association (PSA), Watson Duke.

And it looks like Duke is getting the opposition's help to fight the government over the proposed Trinidad and Tobago revenue Agency (TTRA).

The plan would be for Duke or a PSA representative to sit as a temporary opposition Senator this week during the debate on the TTRA bill.

"They are giving me favourable considerations, not me, but the PSA, which I am representing to have the post of temporary Senator for one day," Duke told local media following the talks with the two opposition MPs.

The PSA is angry with the government over its decision to shut down the Customs and Excise Division, the Board of Inland Revenue and the Value Added tax (VAT) Office and replace them with the single TTRA.

Duke said working with the opposition is the only way to fight back, noting that the government simply shut the door on the PSA's face, leaving no room for discussions.

But Finance Minister Karen Nunez Tesheira has insisted that she has already fulfilled all her obligations for consultation on the issue.

UNC Political Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar believes the government is not acting fairly. She has said the best approach to dealing with matters like this would be to take it to the people and get a mandate from them.

The UNC is prepared to go to court to stop the T&T Revenue Authority Bill from becoming law.