The Privy Council has made a crucial decision in the ongoing saga regarding the integration of public servants at the Board of Inland Revenue (BIR) and the Customs and Excise Division (CED) into the TT Revenue Authority (TTRA). Despite the constitutionality of the authority still under court review, the council ruled that the affected public officers must make a decision about their future employment options.
Initially, a deadline of July 31, 2024, was set for the employees to choose between resigning, accepting a transfer to the TTRA, or being transferred to another office in the public service. However, this deadline was extended multiple times, drawing criticism from the Public Services Association (PSA) after letters were sent to employees on June 25, despite a limited stay in effect until September 25.
During an expedited hearing on July 18, the PSA’s legal team argued that no changes should be made until a ruling on the constitutionality of the TTRA is reached. The State, represented by Douglas Mendes, SC, countered that employees should still make a decision to allow for a smoother transition process in case the appeal is dismissed.
In the end, the Privy Council accepted the State’s undertaking to await their ruling before any further actions are taken. The final decision will be delivered in the upcoming legal term. Stay tuned for updates on this significant case that will impact the future of public servants in Trinidad and Tobago.
