Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo says the penalties contained in the Finance Bill are designed to protect citizens.Speaking during the Senate debate yesterday, Tancoo defended the proposed increases in penalties, arguing that weak fines often become merely a cost of doing business.“A weak fine tells the offender break the law, pay a small amount and continue as normal. And this Government will not enable lawlessness. Mr President, listening to the Opposition in the other place reinforced something this country has already come to know,” he said.He argued that the People’s Na­tional Movement (PNM) has become too comfortable with lawlessness.“So when they come now and argue against consequences for breaking the law, nobody should be surprised. It appears to be rooted in the very veins of the PNM. They come to this Parliament again to gain sympathy,” he said.Tancoo said there were real-­world dangers that Government must guard against.He noted without proper stan­dards, the consequences could extend beyond financial losses.“When products are manufactured, distilled, transported or sold without proper standards, people can lose more than money. People can get sick and people can lose their lives,” he said.The minister cited an Associated Press article dated August 22, 2011, titled “Tainted Vinegar Suspected 11 Deaths in China”.He said the article reported that vinegar tainted with anti-freeze was suspected of killing 11 people and sickening 120 others after a meal.Tancoo said there have been numerous similar incidents over the past two decades involving tainted products, including vinegar and the spirit that is locally called “babash”.He listed places where such incidents had occurred, including Antarctica, Brazil, Australia, Cambodia, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Kuwait, Laos, Ma­dagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Tur­key, Uganda and the United States.Tancoo argued that when pro­ducts were manufactured for sale, there must be standards, accountability and consequences for breaches of the law.He said these measures were necessary to protect citizens who look to the Government to ensure public safety.“And so, therefore, when the Opposition makes light of distilling without a licence, let them explain that to the families of persons who have been injured or who have died from unsafe alcohol and unsafe practices, Mr President,” he said.The minister said consumers must have confidence that the pro­ducts they purchase are safe for consumption and stressed that permits and licensing requirements play an important role in ensuring that safety.Overloaded vesselsTancoo said the same principle applies to vessels regulated under the Motor Launches Act.“They spoke about party boats as though passenger safety is any little thing. But overloading a vessel is not any little thing. Operating without safety, without proper safety equipment, is not any little thing,” he said.Tancoo said carrying passengers beyond the lawful limit was a serious matter with potentially tragic consequences.“When a vessel is overloaded and tragedy strikes, it is not the Opposition who must face the grieving family. It is not the Opposition who must look into the eyes of a mother, a father, a child, a spouse, and explain why basic safety rules were treated as an inconvenience,” he said.He questioned what compensation a victim’s family would receive if an operator breaches legal requirements and insurance coverage becomes void.Tancoo said no responsible government can afford to wait for tra­gedy before enforcing the law.“No serious government can say that the life of a passenger is worth less than the convenience of an ope­rator. No government that cares about people can allow a weak fine to become the cost of doing business,” he said.The Finance Minister concluded by appealing to Independent senators to support the legislation.“Stand in defence of initiatives that are created to benefit, to protect, to safeguard citizens of this country. I challenge members oppo­site. The PNM has already signed their words, but I believe in my heart of hearts, Mr President, that patriotic, right-thinking citizens will support this bill,” he said.