Independent Senator Michael Annisette yesterday began his 2009/2010 Budget contribution by defending the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago’s move to file for judicial review against the Prof John Uff Commission of Enquiry, saying that this is a right of the State enterprise that not even the Government can raise objection to.

’I want to start on a very controversial issue because I intend to be very controversial. I intend to speak the truth as I see it from where I sit,’ said Annisette, a UDeCOTT board member, at the Senate sitting.

Noting that a commission has a lot of ’legal teeth’, Annisette argued that any company being probed has the right to know about the allegations made against it in full detail.

’If the commission is considering making any finding which is adverse to anyone or any company ... that company should have the right to know those allegations, to know about the evidence against it and have the right to challenge those allegations,’ he said.

He continued, ’When I hear the debate ... as to whether or not UDeCOTT has the right to go to court, I begin to wonder if rights are only determined based on who you like and who you don’t like, or if our Constitution, which gives everybody the right under the law to a fair trial and a fair hearing, is being put on the background on the basis of sentimentalities and emotions and special interests and special groups.’

Annisette emphasised that if allegations are made against him and he believes that they are unfair, then he has every right to make a challenge in a free and democratic society.

’My right cannot, and I make that without any apologies, be denied by any Minister or by any Government, that is my right,’ he stressed.

Annisette then trained his guns on the heated issue of the property tax increases Government proposes to implement.

Finance Minister Karen Nunez-Tesheira, in an Express report yesterday, said there would be no backing down on the issue and Government remained committed to the increase.

In response to this, Annisette said, ’I am hoping honestly that that statement was misquoted and the hounourable Minister would correct that statement ... because if in the light of all the complaints that you are hearing ... if you are insensitive and if you disregard those concerns, you do not have an idea of what leadership is, you do not have an idea of what it means to carry a country to another level.’

Annisette, head of the National Trade Union Centre (Natuc), said the trade union does not support this measure.

’I am making an appeal to the Government, withdraw that, think it through ... invite those who will be affected by the decision of the process so that they would not feel left out,’ he said.