...Kamla: Why go after the small man first?
IN PARLIAMENT
■ Anna Ramdass
anna.ramdass@trinidadexpress.com
OPPOSITION Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday took jabs at Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi as she questioned why he was going after the 'small man' and not private companies with multi-million dollar contracts.
She was speaking on the debate of the Non-Profit Organisations Bill at the Parliament sitting yesterday, and the AG's move to rein in and regulate non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Persad-Bissessar noted that the AG said there were more than 104,000 companies in the registry, of which there are about 900 non-profit.
'So what about all the other hundred thousands private companies? Why you not reining them in? Why don't you follow where the profit is? You have the publicly-traded companies, you have the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission). There are people with many companies right here getting $23 million contracts and more million-dollar contracts, that's where the money is. Follow the money!' she said.
'But you are coming at the small man, the charitable man, the sporting group, the village council, the pepper roti producer, the bake and shark producer, you coming at the small man as your first hit. I'm not saying you must not come, but that's your first hit and you have not properly consulted with them and you seek to violate their rights and you come here with such grave conviction, I am very distressed at the manner in which the Government is seeking to operate,' she continued.
She said many of the clauses in the Bill are dictatorial and draconian.
Persad-Bissessar was indirectly criticising Al-Rawi, whom she called to be investigated for alleged misconduct in public office, claiming that the AG and his wife will pocket more than $23 million from the State's rental of a St Clair property.
Persad-Bissessar said at a public meeting that Al-Rawi and his wife, Mona Nahous, were the only shareholders of a property at 3 Alexandra Street, St Clair, which has been leased by Government for $644,000 per month over three years. She said the property was bought for $2.5 million in 2006.
Public Administration Minister Marlene McDonald had told the Parliament that the property rental was value for money and Al-Rawi had recused himself from the Cabinet's decision-making and discussions.
Persad-Bissessar took issue with provisions of the Bill, saying they could affect charitable work of NGOs such as Vision on Mission.
She noted a provision which states that the registrar may refuse to register a non-profit organisation on the basis the head of that entity was found guilty of a criminal offence, which carries a three-year and more imprisonment term.
'So what will happen to Vision On Mission? It's a good programme but you have automatically disqualified him (founder Wayne Chance),' she said.
Persad-Bissessar said Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley was praising Chance and now in a '180-degree turn you slap him (Chance) in the face'. She said the organisation does yeoman work in giving ex-prisoners a second chance, but many persons will be disqualified under this law.
She also objected to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) being the regulator as there is a conflict of interest.
She said it was like asking the police to investigate and regulate.
'TTPS please investigate the rental of properties and TTPS while you are investigating you also regulate it. It cannot happen,' she said.
Persad-Bissessar requested the Bill not be passed as is with Government's simple majority but be sent to a Parliamentary Joint Select Committee (JSC) and for the stakeholders to be consulted.
