- 1 year ago
The Finance Minister announced September 30th as Budget Day
The State got the green light to proceed with the Revenue Authority
And Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh, fell victim to armed bandits
The State got the green light to proceed with the Revenue Authority
And Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh, fell victim to armed bandits
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NewsTranscript
00:00Good evening and welcome to the past seven days on six. I am Vanessa Cutting. Here's
00:23what made the news this past week. The finance minister announced September 30th as budget
00:28day. The state got the green light to proceed with the Revenue Authority and Minister of
00:34Health Terence de Alsing fell victim to armed bandits. As per usual, if it was happening,
00:41it was on six. Let's get right into it. September 30th is budget day, but some Burgesses in
00:48Chaguanas are not optimistic about the 2024-2025 fiscal plan. In fact, TV6 News found that
00:56there is some apprehension that the average person will be under more financial pressure
01:01in the coming year. In the 2023-2024 budget, the increase in minimum wage by $3 per hour
01:09to $20.50 up from $17.50 was one of the measures taken to assist the low-income earners. 90,000
01:18people were expected to benefit from this, but as was promised for 2024, the government
01:25has ruled out the collection of residential property tax, the payment of which has seen
01:30long lines at the Board of Inland Revenue offices. As the country waits with bated breath
01:35to hear what Finance Minister Coleman Byrd would put forward for fiscal 2024-2025, TV6
01:42News ventured to the streets of Chaguanas to solicit views from members of the public.
02:18I think there will be nothing getting better, per se. I believe things will be getting more
02:24expensive, including the new property tax, among other things. Everything is just getting
02:31harder for people. Despite the government's explanation on how the residential property
02:35tax will allow more finances to be placed in the hands of the regional corporations
02:41to better serve their Burgesses, there are those who still feel that the imposition of
02:45it is unfair. I have no problem with the land tax, because that is something that is
02:51always there. But this property tax is where you go into the hardware, you buy your material.
02:57When you take a loan, you work, you save $2 a year, and $2 a day, cut in, to save to build
03:03a house. Now they come into tax, you already pay tax on them thing, you know? You take
03:09a loan and you're paying tax, you're paying interest and so forth. As for what they would
03:14have focused on if they were in the position to draft a budget? We will focus it mainly
03:19on crime, food, and to spend money to lessen the crime rate in the island right now. The
03:27main thing we should see about right now is our food security, because a nation that cannot
03:33feed itself cannot stand. If I were to do the budget, boy, Santa Claus would be looking
03:41for the North Pole, you know? Because it would be Christmas in Trinidad, you know,
03:45in September. You know? And the next thing, I'm a former county worker, and it's 20-something
03:54years now I've been working on my residential lot.
03:57Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
04:03Also happening last week, the opposition leader penned a 17-page correspondence to the Prime
04:09Minister calling for election observers.
04:13I have written a letter to the Prime Minister, it should be delivered sometime tomorrow because
04:18he was out of the country, formally requesting that the government of TNT invite independent
04:27international election observers for the upcoming elections. Now I don't know if anyone will
04:38read my letter, it's 17 pages long.
04:41Opposition leader Kamala Bissau-Bissau calls the presence of international observers in
04:45the upcoming general election a very important exercise.
04:50In that letter I set out, we were one of the few countries who refused to allow international
04:54observers, you remember that? At one point you said they want money, and he don't have
04:59no money. But our history has always been for fair and free democratic elections to
05:05have international observers, and we are going to stick to that, and we will repeat
05:09it ad nauseam.
05:11She says the UNC and the PNM are not the same, and hints towards another coalition in 2025.
05:20Many groups and individuals have approached us to work towards victory in the elections
05:26upcoming. They all say that we have the plans, we have the policies, we have the programmes
05:32ready to turn our country around. UNC has a political will, we have the intellectual
05:39capital.
05:40But before the election there is to be a budget.
05:44On Friday when I asked Minister Imbert when is the budget, that budget is due by the end
05:48of September. Which date is it? He said don't worry, I'll make an announcement Monday. Monday,
05:55Monday. Was he in the Senate today? It's tomorrow, so let's see he makes that announcement. Because
06:01I mean totally government is broke. They have no money.
06:05And the government, she says, must not stand in the way of public officers carrying out
06:10their duty.
06:12He denies the Auditor General the right to review essential central bank data. Last week
06:18I asked and I repeated, why? Why are you denying the Auditor General the right to examine these
06:25records? Because that's her job.
06:28Ms Arbizasa then took on Health Minister Terence Yeltsin for what she termed flip-flopping
06:33when it comes to the nation's health.
06:35And then want to come and call Kamala like I'm your daughter or something. I'm nothing
06:39to you. I want to be nothing to you. But you have a duty to the people of Trinidad and
06:44Tobago. And as you did with the COVID, it's happening with the dengue now too.
06:52The minister reflected on the handling of the COVID pandemic and, in particular, on
06:57the government, media and business sectors for forcing vaccinations onto the population.
07:03That is irresponsible, ignorant advice of the media house editors, business chambers
07:09and government at that time. Where was the science then? How many citizens are now suffering
07:15the ill effects of these fake vaccines that they were forced to take them and had to choose
07:20between the job and the job? To this day, none of them who push mandatory vaccines have
07:26apologized for the irresponsible rules.
07:29And she gave this piece of advice to those suffering from side effects.
07:33Any citizen experiencing poor health and side effects of these vaccines, where your employer
07:39forced you to take the vaccine, you may now have grounds for legal action in the courthouse.
07:45And I would say, sue them. Seek redress.
07:48Ravishi Tiwari, Ruknarain, TV6 News.
07:54We had a quick break. We'll have more news when we return.
08:04Thanks for staying with us. Last week, the Privy Council ruled that the TTRA Act is not
08:09unconstitutional, giving the state the green light to fully implement the act passed back
08:15in 2021.
08:18Celebration in government quarters, evident by the ex-post by Finance Minister Kom Imbert,
08:24who announced the Privy Council's decision to dismiss the appeal brought by Customs Officer
08:29Theresa Dorey, who challenged the implementation of the Trinidad and Tobago Revenue Authority
08:35Act as unconstitutional.
08:38Imbert posted, quote, we won the case. This required tremendous effort against the relentless
08:44opposition from the UNC and the PSA. Now we can modernize revenue collection in TNT,
08:51end quote.
08:52The TTRA Act, passed and proclaimed in 2021, created a new semi-autonomous corporate body,
09:00the Trinidad and Tobago Revenue Authority, responsible for the assessment and collection
09:06of tax which has to date been performed by the Inland Revenue Division and the Customs
09:12and Excise Division of the Ministry of Finance. Public officers currently employed in those
09:17divisions have certain protections. They are insulated from improper political pressure
09:23and interference by having the Public Service Commission, which is empowered to promote,
09:28remove and exercise disciplinary control over them.
09:33But under the TTRA Act, members of the Board are appointed and may be removed by the Minister.
09:39The same applies for the Director General and Deputy Directors General.
09:44However, when it comes to the Enforcement Division, the Deputy Director General of
09:49Enforcement and certain officers of his division are appointed, removed and disciplined by the
09:56Public Service Commission. All other employees of the Authority are appointed, removed by
10:02and subject to the disciplinary control of the Board.
10:06In response to the suggestion that employees carrying out co-government functions ought
10:12not be hired, dismissed and disciplined by the Minister, the Privy Council notes the
10:17difficulty for the parties and even the Court to define an undefined and very likely undefinable
10:25concept of co-government functions. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council says there is
10:31nothing in the Constitution that expressly requires co-government functions to be only
10:36performed or delivered by public servants. The Committee noted also the problem with
10:42defining the term enforcement. It says the scope of powers reserved to public officers
10:48of the Enforcement Division is not as carefully or clearly defined by the Act as might be
10:54desirable and the definition of enforcement is circular. It says,
11:01although this is a controversy of some potential importance, it is unnecessary to resolve it on
11:07this appeal. There might be more targeted challenges to the proper interpretation of
11:12enforcement and the extent to which the intended division of functions is achieved by the Act,
11:20but these are not for determination on this appeal.
11:23But when it came to the substantive matter at hand, the Privy Council was satisfied
11:29that there are necessary and effective safeguards to protect the staff
11:34and officers of the authority and members of the public from executive interference.
11:39The Privy Council says the Enforcement Division has a preserved security of tenure,
11:44remaining under the control and direction of the Public Service Commission. There are safeguards,
11:51to prevent either the Board or the Minister from playing any part in the day-to-day operations of
11:57the authority. The Board is prohibited from giving directions to the Director-General or
12:02any employee of the authority regarding revenue functions. It is prohibited from accessing any
12:08information about individuals or entities or documents concerning legal actions.
12:15The Minister may only give general policy directions to the Board. Employees have
12:21protections that give them security of employment and insulate them from improper interference from
12:27the Executive. All other staff of the authority enjoy all the rights of employees in the private
12:34sector. In the Act, public officers are given three options. 1. To transfer to the authority
12:41on terms and conditions no less favourable than presently enjoyed. 2. To retire from the public
12:48service on terms to be agreed or to remain in the public service in a different role.
12:56Consideration is being given by the government to an extension of time for the payment of the
13:01residential property tax. The original deadline is September 30th. The Finance Minister told the
13:07House of Representatives last week that the new date will be announced on Monday.
13:13While time ran out during the urgent questions segment in the Senate on Tuesday for Senator
13:18Wade Mark to pose his question to the Finance Minister about the September 30th deadline
13:24for the payment of property tax, the Cuba South MP, Rujanathan Darsing, was able to pose his
13:30question on the matter on behalf of the opposition in the House of Representatives on Friday to Prime
13:35Minister Dr Keith Rowley. Prime Minister, given the chaos and the long lines which have been
13:44observed and experienced by the citizens outside of the offices of the Board of Inland Revenue,
13:52will the Prime Minister inform this House if the government has considered and approved an
13:59extension to the deadline date for the payment of the property tax?
14:04Madam Speaker, the government is pleased that so very many citizens have made it their duty to
14:10try to comply, notwithstanding the efforts put into encouraging them not to support
14:18the government's improvement measures. September 30th is not only the deadline for the payment of
14:24the residential property tax, it is also the date that the Finance Minister is due to present
14:29the government's budget for fiscal 2025 in the House of Representatives.
14:34And the government would also want to acknowledge that at the end of the month
14:40there was a confluence of these taxpayers attempting to make various payments,
14:47both the property tax and the normal other taxes that are paid. And as a result of
14:52this enthusiasm which focused at the end of the month, the government did consider
14:57that some sort of adjustment is required and the Minister of Finance will adjust that very
15:03early in the coming week. Later in the debate, Finance Minister Colm Imbert confirmed which day
15:09next week he will announce what the government has decided regarding the present September 30th
15:15deadline for the residential property tax payments. As the Prime Minister has indicated, consideration
15:21is being given to an extension of time and on Monday the extended date will be announced.
15:28The Finance Minister was responding to an urgent question from Naparima MP Rodney Charles in the
15:32lower house as he gave a more detailed answer to a question posed in the upper house on Tuesday
15:38about the possibility of an online payment system for property tax. I did not give a time frame in
15:44the other place but I can give a time frame here that we expect by the end of October
15:50we will be able to accept payments, well not we, the Board of Inland Revenue, not me,
15:55will be able to accept payments by ACH bank transfer credit card. The Finance Minister
16:01also said the Board of Inland Revenue informed him that both personal and manager's checks are
16:06accepted as a form of payment for the property tax in addition to cash payments at all BIR offices
16:13and payments by links at the BIR's offices in Port of Spain and San Fernando. Jule Brown, TV6 News.
16:24This is the past seven days on six. We'll be right back.
16:34Welcome back. Two men were held in connection with the robbery of Minister of Health Charan
16:40last week. Police sources confirmed that the suspects were held by officers of the Port of
16:45Spain division as well as the interagency task force led by Senior Superintendent Maharaj and
16:52Superintendent Spence. The officers acting on intelligence received following the armed robbery
16:59perpetrated against Health Minister Diyal Singh in St. Joseph made their way on Tuesday night to
17:05St. Paul Street in Port of Spain where they intercepted a blue Hyundai Elantra which matched
17:10the description of the getaway car. Two men were in the vehicle at the time. The suspects were
17:17detained and questioned. They have since been handed over to officers of the St. Joseph Police
17:23Station. Police could not confirm if the gold Bira which was stolen had been retrieved. Sergeant John
17:30is continuing inquiries. The incident originally took place around 5 p.m on Tuesday outside a bar
17:38located at the corner of Abercrombie and King Streets in St. Joseph near Diyal Singh's constituency
17:45office. Two bandits, one of whom pointed a gun at Diyal Singh's head, robbed him of his gold bracelet.
17:54A video was later taken of him speaking to someone on his cellular phone about what happened
17:59and this clip was posted to social media.
18:29Deputy Commissioner of Police Suzette Martin said that the police service strongly condemned
18:39the incident and gave an assurance that they would be doing all in their power to find those
18:45responsible. I wish to assure the public that a thorough investigation is already underway
18:53and all efforts are being made to swiftly apprehend those responsible. And while she
19:00confirmed that several persons are being interviewed at the moment, she also called
19:05on any other individuals who may have had a role to play to surrender to law enforcement.
19:11To those who were involved in this crime, my best advice to you is to turn yourself in
19:18with your attorney, relative or friend, since rest assured we are coming after you.
19:27She also noted that crimes of violence, especially those involving the use of firearms,
19:33will not be tolerated in this country. Alexander Brucewall, TV6 News.
19:4217-year-old Hakeem Anderson of Golden Lane, Tobago, a former student of Mason Hall Secondary,
19:47was one of two persons shot dead by police last week at an apartment at Roy's Island Guest House
19:54in Tobago. The other victim was identified as Razine Kwashi, also of Golden Lane.
20:00The two were wanted in connection with a number of gun crimes in Tobago.
20:05Police reports state that at around 6 p.m. on Monday, a party of police officers,
20:12members of the intelligence team and Tobago Divisional CID based at the Chauvin Road Police
20:18Station, went to Roy's Island Guest House at Susulance, Tobago, in search of armed men wanted
20:27in connection with several shootings on the island. The officers said when they announced
20:33their presence, Hakeem Anderson and Razine Kwashi pointed guns at them, and in keeping with the
20:40TTPS's use of force policy, the police opened the fire on them. The officers said the injured
20:48men were taken to the Scarborough General Hospital, where both were declared dead on
20:53arrival by the attending doctors. Two guns were retrieved at the scene, which was visited by the
21:00top cops in Tobago. Investigations are continuing. Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News.
21:11Meantime, the Southwestern Division of the TTPS has been given additional resources
21:16to help patrol and secure the country's southwestern border.
21:20This was revealed at a TTPS media briefing by Central and South Divisional heads on Thursday,
21:26that resources had been increased and or diverted to assist in that region,
21:31after it was confirmed recently that multiple Coast Guard vessels are out of commission.
21:37Our southwestern peninsula, which closely borders nearby Venezuela,
21:42is just one area at increased risk for illegal entry of migrants,
21:47contraband like drugs, weapons, animals and other potentially hazardous products,
21:52following the revelation recently that numerous Coast Guard vessels were not currently operational.
21:59But head of the Central South Region, Assistant Commissioner of Police Wayne Meister says,
22:04resources have been moved around and or allocated to ensure that safety and security are not compromised.
22:35Meanwhile, Acting Superintendent Gan of the Central Division on Thursday encouraged
22:53the landlords who rent rooms and homes to migrants to screen them as best as they can.
23:05He says there are more and more crimes being committed by Venezuelan migrants,
23:23and landlords can assist in helping their communities by checking potential tenants'
23:29IDs with the nearest police station, as the TTPS can do background checks.
23:59Cindy Raghuban Tika Singh, TV6 News.
24:05Sport is up next, keep it here.
24:13In sport, the Trimbago Knight Riders made a good start to their home leg last week,
24:18with a five-wicket win over defending champions Guyanamazon Warriors at the
24:23Queen's Park Oval. Here's a look back at the action.
24:29With this season being Dwayne Bravo's swan song, he was honoured with the TKR players sporting the
24:35number 47 on their backs, this as they took on Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Republic Bank CPL
24:41match at the Queen's Park Oval. TKR won the toss and put the defending champions into bat.
24:45Tim Robinson and Kevin Sinclair were the openers for the Amazon Warriors.
24:49And that's a smart shot because we identified...
24:52Sinclair went for nine, followed by Shea Hope for five.
24:57It's a big swing.
24:59Then Waqar Salam Khail took two wickets, including Robinson for 34.
25:04When DJ Bravo castled Kimo Paul, it got worse. By the time Sunil Narine had taken his second
25:10wicket, Guyana was 76 for 7. All-rounder Romario Shepard had an important role to play with bat
25:16in hand. Shepard hit an unbeaten 51 of 24 balls, while Dwayne Pretorius made 21 not out. The
25:26Amazon Warriors closed on 148 for 7 from their 20 overs. When Trinbago Knight Riders responded,
25:33Narine was bowled by Moeen Ali for 11. Shakir Paris played some exciting shots in his 29.
25:39Nathan Salter was the man to remove Paris and then Casey Carty in the same over,
25:46with the latter falling for 10. Make that 63 for 4 as Shemar Joseph disturbed
25:51Kieran Pollard's furniture with a beauty. Then Kimo Paul had Niklas Puran leg before
25:58for 19 with a full toss. He was imploring the umpire to give it out.
26:03But the best judge was DRS and the finger had to go up, 89 for 5.
26:08But then came Andrew Russell who got off the mark with a streaky 4.
26:12The fielder in the deep dropped the ball and also the match.
26:17Russell was then severe on the Amazon Warriors, piercing the bowlers over the ropes.
26:24With 12 to get from the last over, Tim Davids smashed the first two deliveries from Paul for
26:29maximums to end on 31, while Russell topscored with 36 not out. TKR reached 149 for 5 of 19.2
26:37overs to win by 5 wickets. The TKR will next take on the St Kitts and Nevis later tonight.
26:49And cricket legend Brian Charles Lara debuted his book, Lara the England Chronicles, last week,
26:56detailing his early life and journey through his career as a cricketer.
27:00The Prince of Portospain signed autographs and presented copies to several noteworthy figures.
27:06The man, the myth, the legend. There will only be one Brian Lara, the Prince of Portospain,
27:12Mr 400 not out, the 501 King. There's a long list of accolades to the man,
27:19enough to fill a book or books. This one's called the England Chronicles.
27:24Here is just a sample of his career in the sport of cricket in his life which is still being told.
27:31His work being shared and taught to the future generation of cricketers
27:35who could only dream of accomplishing what he has done.
28:05It was a courtesy to extend an invitation to his home where he took the time to sign autographs.
28:29The Minister of Sport, Shampo Kojo, was also there to congratulate Lara on his achievement.
28:34And a former teammate and friend, Dwayne Bravo, would not miss the opportunity to
28:39ring in the moment. There are few Lara would credit for where he is today.
28:44I entered Fatima. I failed the exam as a Form 1 student, a finished Form 1 student from Samoan
28:50Secondary and I had to repeat. But what my father created for me was a challenge in my academics
28:58that definitely served me well throughout my life on cricket fields, analyzing situation
29:04and being brave to stand up to them. He made mention as well of Sir Vivian Richards. However,
29:10is this the last book? So I believe that this history needs to be told on its own.
29:18And just to let you know, I've already written my time, my period against Australia. But I would
29:27let this, you know, get in. I tell you, enjoy this and then we'll come out with the Australian
29:35version, which of course, they are the fiercest competitors during my period.
29:40It's sure to be a good read. Sergio Dufour, TV6 Sport.
29:45And that's a wrap on the past seven days on six. I am Vanessa Cutting. If you didn't catch this
29:51segment in its entirety, you can find it on our website, www.tv6tnt.com. And you can find all
30:00these stories and more on the TV6 mobile app. Thanks for choosing TV6 and do have a good evening.
30:21Transcribed by https://otter.ai
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