WHY PNM CALLED A PUBLIC MEETING DURING SOE

The PNM Administration is aware of citizen anxiety over the implementation of the Property Tax, especially amid the economic crisis caused by Covid-19.  

Communications officials at the Office of the Prime Minister, led by Keith Subero, and PNM executive officers, including PRO Laurel Lezama-Lee Sing, feel the party must take the political offensive. 

An email last week among party and government operatives called for a series of virtual public meetings.  

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley was immediately sold on the idea, particularly since it also afforded him an opportunity to put a spin on the National Gas Company (NGC) debacle. 

The Office of the Prime Minister created the graphics that were shown during the virtual meeting, which was broadcast from the PNM’s Diego Martin West constituency office. 

That was the backdrop to the meeting on Tuesday evening, an unusual event for the party during the extended national State of Emergency (SOE). 

The Government is implementing the Property Tax at a time when countries around the world are providing financial incentives and reliefs because of the negative economic impact of Covid-19. 

The imposition of the tax also flies against Rowley’s tough stance against the measure in 2009, shortly after he was fired from the Patrick Manning Cabinet. 

At the meeting, Rowley came out swinging against the opposition UNC on the NGC issue, alleging that there was heavy spending of the company’s earnings from 2010 to 2015. 

He did not directly reply to media and opposition exposes on flawed decision-making and the expenditure of $200 million of a planned $440 m on the frozen Train 1 of Atlantic LNG plant. 

The reintroduction of the much-criticised Property Tax comes at a time of high unemployment and the collapse of a large number of small and medium-sized businesses. 

With reduced energy revenues, Finance Minister Colm Imbert urgently needs to find new sources of funds.  

Further PNM meetings are planned, at which the proposed Revenue Authority, Local Government reform, and other measures would be discussed.