Jesse Ramdeo
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is endorsing the rollout of property tax even if it swings the next general election away from the PNM. The Prime Minister made the comment this evening during the debate on the Amendment of the Property Tax Act. The bill is expected to make changes to some parts of the Property Tax Act, including an assessment and the three per cent rate of residential taxation involved in the tax.
The Prime Minister maintained that the collection of the tax will revolutionize the delivery of services meted out to citizens, he stated, "We are not afraid of being voted out for doing the right thing for this country, and I make no bones about that because we believe that as we do the right thing for this country enough people will see we do the right thing and will make sure we stay that is where we differ, they believe they have to pander to every nonsense."
Dr Rowley accused the opposition of not truly representing the views of all of its members.
The Prime Minister also quoted Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation chairman, Ryan Rampersad, in a Guardian Newspaper article in which he said he was concerned about what the one per cent reduction in residential rates meant for corporations' funding. However, in response, Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal also chided Dr Rowley saying PNM councillors in the Chaguanas borough join UNC councillors in not supporting the tax. That claim from Dr Moonilal was later denied by Finance Minister Colm Imbert.