(Trinidad Guardian) Two Government Ministers are coming under fire for their purchases of luxury vehicles in the last four months as citizens continue to reel from the impacts of extended lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over the last several days documents from the Board of Inland Revenue were leaked to the public.
One, dated March 15, 2021, shows approval being given by the division to grant exemptions to Energy Minister Stuart Young in the sum of $556,571.06 for the purchase of a Mercedes Benz GLE 450.
The document stated the car’s market price as $1,039,460.41 with VAT as $129.932.55, motor vehicle tax as $134,955 and customs duty as $291,683.51.
The second document, dated June 7, 2021, shows approval being granted by the division to exempt Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh from paying $390,166.63 in VAT, motor vehicle tax and customs duty on the purchase of a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. The vehicle’s value was stated as $703,437 on the document with VAT amounting to $87,929.63, motor vehicle tax as $121,050 and customs duty as $181,187.
Speaking during the United National Congress’ Monday Night Forum, Opposition MP Dr Roodal Moonilal questioned the purchases.
“Could you believe that one minister, quite recently, in 2021, in March, brought in a Mercedes Benz with an exemption, Minister Young has an exemption of $550,000? This is following on the foot heels of another luxury vehicle purchased by the Minister of Health with another exemption of $700,000,” Moonilal said.
He also referenced a recent statement made by Social Development Minister Donna Cox that some people who were lined up for hampers in South Trinidad several weeks ago were ‘greedy’ but not needy.
“So imagine two ministers, buying luxury cars at a time like this, a pandemic where people don’t have food to eat and they are being exempted, in excess, they are being exempted in excess of one million dollars. While a ministerial colleague says the people who are lining up for hampers, she says they are not needy, they are greedy, this brothers and sisters is greediness,” Moonilal said, holding up documents showing the tax exemptions.
Moonilal suggested that the Government should a moratorium on the purchase of luxury vehicles at this time.
“That million dollars in exemptions could buy five SUV vehicles for the TTPS, the Police Service, you can buy five vehicles for the Police Service if you give up the exemptions for VAT, taxes and customs duties. But that is where we are when they accuse ordinary people of being greedy, I imagine Mercedes Benz and Toyota Land Cruisers, that is not being greedy, that is needy.”
Trent Restaurant chief executive officer, Peter George Jr said the purchases of these vehicles by both ministers at a time when many citizens are suffering shows a clear disconnect between the Government and the people.
However, George said this issue lies not just with the Government but also with Opposition MPs taking advantage of massive tax breaks.
“I think it’s both sides, not just the Government Ministers, we are going through an economic armageddon the likes of which we have never seen before. And we have had restrictions being placed on citizens and businesses going on 17 months,” George said.
He said the purchases, at this time, were insensitive at best and showed a disconnect at worst.
George said ministers needed to be in touch with what is happening on the ground.
“ This is not the right time to do it. You can wait six months until things get back to normal, I mean that is taxpayers’ money, that $400,000 or $500,000.”
He said MPs have also had the benefit of receiving full salaries for the entire duration of the pandemic, unlike many citizens, who have lost their jobs or had their incomes reduced significantly.
In October 2020, during his contribution to the budget debate, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley announced he would bring a proposal to cap the exemption limit.
“I will propose to my colleagues at the Cabinet because I am not going to unilaterally make a decision. Like I will propose to my colleagues at the Cabinet, the Cabinet take the position of the average exemption on motor vehicles be capped at $350,000 because, Madam Speaker, that will give you a fine car,” the Prime Minister said at the time.
Guardian Media Limited reached out to the Prime Minister via WhatsApp yesterday, asking whether the proposal had been brought before the Cabinet.
The messages were marked as ‘read’ but there was no response up until press time.
An email was sent to the Office of the President, asking whether any correspondence had been sent by the Cabinet about a change in the terms and conditions afforded to MPs within the past nine months.
Communications adviser to President Paula-Mae Weekes, Cheryl Lala said the President’s office had received no such correspondence.
Political scientist Dr Bishnu Ragoonath told Guardian Media yesterday the law granting exemptions allows ministers to abuse the process.
“The suggestion last year by the Prime Minister that they cap it was a good suggestion. Unfortunately, the Prime Minister says what gathers good PR at the time but does not follow up,” Ragoonath said.
He said the ministers were now simply taking advantage of the exemptions and acting in their own best interest.
Copies of the leaked Inland Revenue documents were sent to Energy Minister Stuart Young yesterday, asking him if he could confirm whether it was authentic.
Young read the messages but did not respond.
Similarly, messages were sent to Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh along with a copy of the document referencing his purchase. He too did not respond.
