Indo group writes PSA on ethnic fears in new revenue agency

Indo Trinbago Equality Council [ITEC]

10th March 2010

Mr. Watson Duke
President
Public Services Association
Abercrombry Street
Port of Spain

RE: ETHNIC DIMENSION OF REVENUE AUTHORITY

Dear Sir:

The Indo-Trinbago Equality Council [ITEC]has been noting your union ongoing struggle regarding the Trinidad & Tobago Revenue Authority [TTRA] to which we lend our support and best wishes.

The ITEC wishes to draw to your attention an ethnic dimension to the proposed TTRA so that you may factor it in during your deliberations.

Members of the Inland Revenue and members of the Indo-Trinbago community have complained to ITEC two major areas of concern. Firstly the composition of the TTRA’s Board led by Dr Andre Vincent Henry does not include a single
Indo-Trinbagoian.

In our plural society where Indians constitute a statistical majority it is indeed ironic that the composition of the Board is not reflective of the ethnic diversity of our nation.

Given that our politics is inextricably bounded to race the composition of the Board is deeply troubling to the Indian business class. There is the uneasy suspicion that the Indian business class, the historical financiers of the Opposition, will be targeted and penalized by the TTRA Board.

The newly enacted TTRA legislation states clearly that the Board and CEO are to be appointed by the Minister further fueling fears of the Indian business class.

The second area of concern that has been brought to the attention of ITEC is that of the workers of Indian origin. Currently over 50% of the workers are of Indian
origin and all are fearful that primarily due to their ethnicity they will be
purged from the TTRA.

Reports reaching ITEC is that the senior positions within the TTRA have been already earmarked and that Indo-Trinbagoians will be marginalized.

While ITEC appreciates that the PSA treats with the issue surrounding the TTRA as a primarily a labor issue, ITEC hopes that the ethnic issue does not escape your attention as it is of grave concern to many of our members and their families.

Yours truly,

Devant Maharaj
Chairman