The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune. On Tuesday, 22nd November, 2011, I caught the last five minutes of the NB-12 9pm programme. Fred A Mitchell, Jr, presumably in his capacity as a PLP member, was being interviewed and suggested that government needed to get creative and should consider waiving all Real Property Taxes outstanding for the years prior to 2007. The implication being, as I understood it, that this would assist government in then getting the message to Bahamians about the dire need for them to pay their taxes and would actually assist government in collecting taxes going forward. What a load of nonsense! Why would I ever pay my taxes if I thought I might get an amnesty in future if I waited long enough! In any event, over the years government has regularly given amnesties on Real Property Tax surcharges if a person paid the outstanding taxes in full. In fact there is currently such an amnesty in place for commercial properties. Why do our Honourable Members of Parliament continually support those who fail to honour their basic obligations as members of society (not paying property taxes, not paying national insurance payments and the like) and who are otherwise breaking the law (numbers houses) instead of acknowledging and giving credit to law-abiding citizens. In my view, government should do what it is supposed to do and actively go after those who have failed to meet their obligations. They have been doing this, selectively it seems, for National Insurance contributions. Why not for Real Property Taxes? And if Fred Mitchell wants to get creative then I think he should get creative by waiving property taxes for the next five years for all persons whose taxes are presently current. In a nutshell it seems that the ideal world of Fred Mitchell is one where those who pay their taxes are fools and those who don't can expect Government to eventually absolve them of their responsibilities while they sit back and laugh at all the foolish taxpayers. Why is Mr Mitchell making such a suggestion anyway? Sometimes it makes one wonder if it might be because our Honourable representatives are themselves not all such honourable citizens. I would like to take this opportunity to challenge Fred Mitchell and every current Member of Parliament and every prospective electoral candidate in the upcoming elections, whether PLP, FNM or DNA to disclose how much they personally, and any company in which they have an interest, owe in Real Property taxes. Further, I challenge these same persons to disclose the status of the Real Property taxes for any property they own or have an interest in. In fact, given the current discussions on the National Insurance and Business Licence fees in relation to the straw market vendors, I challenge these same persons to disclose the status of any Business Licence fees and National Insurance contributions for which they, or a business or company in which they have any interest, are responsible. A BAHAMIAN TAXPAYER IN GOOD STANDING Nassau, December 7, 2011.