Former PNM Finance Minister, Karen Nunez Tesheira, prominent attorney and Former Senate President, Timothy Hamel-Smith, and environmental activist and businessman, Gary Aboud, are joining forces with the Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC and Senator Wade Mark in a Round Table to Repeal the Procurement Amendment recently passed by the PNM against the cries of the population.
The UNC says the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act, in its original form, was the single most important tool in the history of Trinidad and Tobago to stop corruption.
After many years of struggle to get the original legislation passed and, later, to get it implemented, in December 2020, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago inexplicably laid Amendments in Parliament to weaken the Act, and thereby allow corruption to continue.
Virtually the whole population, civil society, the business community, trade unions, community groups and others opposed the gutting of the Act by these Amendments.
Despite this outburst of unified public opinion, the Government persisted with implementing these Amendments. After its passing, the Deputy Chairman of the Procurement Board resigned in protest, infamously calling it the “final emasculation”.
The UNC said it wants the population to know “that all is not lost. There is still hope.”
The party said that “A window of opportunity still exists since the Amended Act has not yet been operationalised.”
“To this end the United National Congress has called a Round Table and Webinar to mobilise public support for the Repeal of the Procurement Amendment, and save the single most important tool against corruption that our country has ever had.
This issue transcends political affiliations, class positions, regional locations, and any racial or religious classifications. It is for the collective future of our country and the future of our children. Together.”
The UNC is calling on every citizen to join them on Monday 1st February 2021 at 7:30pm and listen to this wide range of dynamic speakers from across the political and social spectrum, united as one people for our country.
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