BALISIER HOUSE AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM

THE sprawling remodelled Balisier House is a fitting headquarters of one of the region’s oldest political parties. 

The modern new structure has doubtlessly cost the ruling People’s National Movement several million dollars. 

This prompts the query of how an organisation that was financially broke a few years ago could afford such a spanking building. 

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley has admitted that when he became PNM leader in May 2010, the party was $4 million in debt. 

PNM owed money to Public Transport Service Corporation and the State-owned media, now renamed Trinidad and Tobago Television. 

Rowley stated that one of his first jobs was “fighting to save Balisier House, fighting to pay its bills, fighting to pay the staff”. 

Over time, the party liquidated its debts. 

From a debt-ridden political party, PNM could now afford a contemporary multi-level building that is as attractive as any other urban structure. 

That radical transformation has taken place within a decade. 

There is widespread speculation about how the PNM rose from the financial ashes. 

Certain major contractors performing taxpayer-funded functions are giving financial kickbacks to the PNM, it is widely alleged. 

Some large operators are actually carrying out construction works as part of an exchange arrangement for public works, it is claimed. 

In the absence of the transparency associated with procurement legislation, there could be extensive bobol involving the public’s purse. 

Despite watering down the procurement law, the government has still refused to have it proclaimed. 

On top of that, the Rowley administration has not delivered on campaign finance reform, a 2015 general election manifesto promise. 

The PNM pledged seven years ago to introduce such a law “as an urgent priority”. 

In vying for national office, the party expressed a commitment to “put an end to the pernicious ‘political investors’ once and for all”. 

The country was told that PNM will draft, enact and implement “appropriate” campaign finance legislation. 

The party vowed to draw on successful models used in developed countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom. 

Such law would be in effect “before the next general election,” Rowley’s party told the electorate. 

Just as with the procurement law, campaign finance legislation remains a non-starter. 

In the meantime, the massive Balisier House invites speculation because of its obvious cost and the PNM’s woeful financial state a mere few years ago. 

The political opposition and a few civic-minded nationals have raised penetrative questions, but it is unlikely that Rowley would explain how the PNM’s coffers became so healthy in such a quick time.  

But in his early months as Prime Minister, he had alleged that such racketeering had taken place during the tenure of the previous administration. 

On the basis of such claims, the PNM Government stalled on paying certain outstanding bills, and some matters even reached the courts. 

Today, the PNM is at the butt of similar accusations, and the state-of-the-art Balisier House stands as an alleged testament of corruption with the public’s purse. 

When he was removed from Patrick Manning Cabinet in 2009, Rowley had spoken of financial impropriety during a previous incarnation of the PNM. 

He said the stigma associated with former corrupt government minister John O’Halloran had affected the image of the PNM. 

Within the next few months, the ruling party is expected to cut the ribbon for its new-fashioned head office. 

Campaign finance law is not even on the legislative agenda.