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I have re-examined the long-standing perils of our manipulable state enterprise system, focusing last week on how inadequately prepared we are for oversight in terms of appropriately trained personnel and available or reliable data.
This week I wish to emphasise that it was into that same manipulable environment that the recently defeated People’s National Movement (PNM) government placed the Trinidad and Tobago Revenue Authority (the TTRA).
The TTRA was to be the rock star of revenue collection. However, it was never clear to me how this new statutory body would have performed competently if its staff was to be drawn from personnel of the type whose limitations were adversely described by the Procurement Regulator as quoted in last week’s column.
Proponents of the TTRA did not realistically face the peril of its possible manipulation, state enterprise-style.
I am aware that in September 2024 the Privy Council held that it was “satisfied that there are the necessary mechanisms and effective safeguards to protect the staff and officers of the Authority and members of the public from executive interference”.
I respect that finding. But in this society there is a long-standing practice of interference behind the legal veneer of protection. I have described this as interfering intravenously.
Moreover, if governors of the Central Bank, two in succession, can be dismissed—one by red Cabinet advice, the other by yellow Cabinet advice—where would that have left any chairman of the TTRA, if not on the same precarious perch?
I remain unconvinced therefore that in the real world the TTRA would not have been in peril of manipulation similar to bodies controlled by the party in power through a state board, as outlined in my previous columns.
Copyright: Office of Parliament 2025.
Consequently, I do not mourn the demise of the TTRA as a result of the repeal of the legislation establishing it.
Just as one feared manipulation of the TTRA, one can also fear—as the Independent senators appear to have done—for partisan political manipulation of the Children’s Life Fund, when the current Government insisted on the Minister of Health having the authority to review applications rejected by the Life Fund Committee.
The nine Independent senators found themselves and their good faith under attack arising out of how they voted on proposed amendments to the Children’s Life Fund when the amending Bill was in its Committee stage, even though they ultimately supported the passing of the Bill.
Photo: Office of the Parliament 2025.
We live in an environment in which, on many occasions, all that seems to matter is taking a position for or against and then to light the electronic media fire and hate on persons with whom there is disagreement.
Note must be taken that the fierce momentum of hate of that kind may even lead to physical attacks on figures in public life or public spotlight.
Such a negative environment discourages examination of underlying factors, encourages blind loyalty to shaky messiahs and promotes quick fixes. It also leads to the repeated dashing of hopes when quick fixes or unsound promises fail to yield results.
Photo: Office of the Parliament 2025.
The nine Independent senators have been thrust into the negative environment I have described. They can take care of themselves and the President of the Senate came out promptly with a statement for their protection after the Children’s Life Fund debate.
It must however be recorded that the premature attacks on them as conspirators against the elected Government were blown away by their subsequent participation in the debate on the Prime Minister’s Pension (Amendment) Bill in the Senate last week.
Each of the nine senators carefully and respectfully set out their individual reasons for the stance each was taking on the Bill, five of them ultimately supporting the Bill and voting with the Government. In some cases, the conscientious internal conflict in coming to a final position was obvious.
Copyright: Office of the Parliament 2025.
However they voted, it was a commendable execution of their duty and makes them worthy of our trust and confidence, albeit at this early stage of their onerous public service.
As the pressure is ramped up on them, hopefully they will not be intimidated into shirking their duty as each one of them sees it. It is a time to stand firm.
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Martin G Daly SC is a prominent attorney-at-law. He is a former Independent Senator and past president of the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago.
He is chairman of the Pat Bishop Foundation and a steelpan music enthusiast.
