admin's blog

Privatisation for Control: The Trinidad and Tobago Revenue Authority

March 2, 2010 by admin

Yesterday, I took some people down to the Siparia District Revenue Office to get part of their form required for water connection filled out. And the office was closed. A sign on the door said that the Siparia District Revenue Office we were at would be closed as of December 31st, 2009 and told people to go visit the Siparia District Revenue Office - without any form of direction. It ends up that the office wasn't closed, but the sign is there to confuse people.

We met others who wanted to get things done at the District Revenue Office. Tired of no answers, I walked to the building behind and talked to the security who - in their infinite wisdom - told people that they should listen to the news since the people employed by the District Revenue Office were 'on strike'. If you want any information in Trinidad and Tobago, talk to the security guards. It seems that they know everything, and for a little power to demean others they will willingly disburse information.

The day was lost. But I did recall hearing something about the strike - thankfully abbreviated from the 'industrial action' used way too often. I came across this video this morning (hat tip to Margaret Rose), and it gives an interesting - and in my opinion, correct - perspective of what Trinidad and Tobago government has been doing as a whole. That it's on the Internet is inspiring, that Om Lalla and P.S.A President Watson Duke hit the issue so well should become viral.

  {Read more}

Revisiting Trinidad and Tobago Property Tax Reform

January 15, 2010 by admin

With Trinbagonians distracted with the upcoming Carnival, Beyonce and now Haiti, the new Property Tax seems all but forgotten.

It probably helps that the new costs will be sent out after Carnival, so I expect that when people get their new taxation after the 31st of March, the fallout will begin.

That said, I went digging for information. On Facebook, since time was not on my side, a few friends pointed me in the right direction to get the actual acts involved (to save you the trouble, I attached the files below). I read over them. I read what the Ministry of Finance website has about the Property Tax Reform. The data it has is very close to the data sent out by the Ministry of Finance prior to the Act being passed - with agricultural rates increased from 1% to 2% in the Amendment (mr5F5507.pdf, below, page 11). Thus what the Opposition to the Property Tax effectively did was raised the tax for farmers - and the Ministry of Finance site has not been updated.

In essence, Opposition managed to screw farmers with their saber rattling.

All of that being said, the valuation of the property remains a big question mark. {Read more}

A New Year, No New Hope

January 1, 2010 by admin

As Trinidad and Tobago rang in 2010, things spoken of most were the ongoing issues that the UNC-A has and the passing of the property tax despite what appears to be the majority of the population against it. Many who I spoke with in South Trinidad were more concerned about how they would survive 2010 than what they would accomplish.

Maybe I only talk to worried people. Even as I sat in a rumshop after work, talking with a few friends, two uniformed police hopped out of their vehicle and quietly sat in the back - nursing two beers. I had to wonder if they were going to be operating breathalyzers in the near future, but I kept that to myself. It's not a good idea to antagonize the police when you have a beer in hand.

Farmers I spoke with were considering their crops, what damages they may have when Petrotrin does the 3D Seismic Survey in South Oropouche this month, and how the property tax would affect them.

And in all the conversations I had, there was one thing missing: hope.

But then, maybe I only talk to worried people.

A Belated Season's Greetings

December 27, 2009 by admin

It seems everyone took an unannounced holiday for the holidays - myself included, though I haven't had time for a holiday - so I wanted to let everyone know that we're still alive and kicking.

There's much going on in T&T these days, as always, but I'll be waiting for January to write up a bunch of things that I have been stewing on in between switching hats.

Season's greetings. Drive safely, etc., etc. And don't let the bastards get you down.