By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Deputy Chief Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
FREE National Movement (FNM) candidate for Golden Gates Michael Foulkes was assessed by the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and found to owe the US government $132,493.60 in taxes, including interest and penalties spanning several tax periods from 1999 to 2001, a document obtained by The Tribune yesterday showed.
And despite FNM chairman Sidney Collie’s recent denial that Mr Foulkes had not been barred from practicing law in the state of Florida, a search for his bar number on the Florida Bar’s website listed the FNM candidate as being subject to “disciplinary resignation” and “not eligible to practice law in Florida”.
According to a notice of federal tax lien filed in the Dade County Courthouse and prepared on December 8, 2008, the IRS said: “We are giving notice that taxes (including interest and penalties) have been assessed against the following named taxpayer.
“We have made a demand for payment of this liability, but it remains unpaid. Therefore there is a lien in favour of the United States on all property and rights to property belonging to this taxpayer for the amount of these taxes and additional penalties, interests and costs that may accrue.”
The document lists three separate unpaid balances for the tax periods 1999, 2000 and 2001 of $46,902.96, $38,870.61 and $46,720.03 respectively. He was assessed on each of these unpaid balances in 2004, 2005 and 2007.
It is unclear whether Mr Foulkes settled any of the debt, but the document does note that unless the notice of the lien was re-filed by the specified dates, the notice would operate as a certificate of release.
Mr Foulkes could not be reached for comment yesterday up to press time.
The notice of tax lien and Mr Foulkes’ Florida Bar record were verified by The Tribune yesterday after Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Bradley Roberts released an electronic file delving into Mr Foulkes’ past in the US.
Several other allegations and claims were also made in this file, but they could not be authenticated yesterday.
Last month, Mr Roberts criticised FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis saying his “failed leadership” led the party to select “bad and unfit” candidates to run for the impending 2017 general election.
Speaking to supporters at a rally in Grand Bahama early last month, Mr Roberts alleged that Mr Foulkes was suspended from practising law in the United States.
During this event he said: “The candidate selections of the FNM strikes at the foundation of the quality of any successful leader and that is the attribute of judgment. Minnis, I remind you, was ambushed and removed as the Official Opposition leader because of poor judgment.”
Mr Roberts said both Mr Foulkes along with FNM North Eleuthera Mackey standard-bearer were “unfit” candidates. He said the picks were the result of “the flimsiest of vetting systems”.
“Under his leadership (Dr Minnis), seven MPs, six senators and two national chairmen and three candidates abandoned him,” Mr Roberts said last month. “Some said they lacked confidence in his leadership; some said he was dishonest and not a man of his word and therefore could not be trusted and some have called him corrupt.
“It is no secret that he struggled to keep his party together and I am advised that the infighting continues regardless of the amount of lipstick they try to put on that pig.
“How a leader of a political party leads and manages his party’s affairs is a dress rehearsal for how he would lead a government. The verdict among Bahamians is that he is a failed leader.
“This brings me to Minnis’ selected candidates. Howard ‘Rickey’ Mackey in North Eleuthera is a bad candidate and I will drop some more bombshells after he is nominated; another is their Golden Gates candidate Michael Augustine Foulkes’ suspension to practice law in the USA strongly conveys that he is an unfit candidate,” he alleged.
When he was contacted about the last allegation several weeks ago, Mr Collie said the claim was not true, adding that Mr Foulkes had not been suspended.
Mr Roberts has continuously sought to discredit some FNM candidates this cycle, so far dropping several “bombshells” including Mr Mackey’s failure to pay a 10-year tax debt of $9,500 to the Department of Customs. He made the claims in March and in response Mr Mackey said he forgot about the outstanding sum.
He later settled the debt. However just last week, Mr Roberts again revealed more potentially damaging revelations about Mr Mackey.
For his part, Mr Mackey told The Tribune last week that he did not have time to respond Mr Roberts’ allegations, which he said he was aware of, and that a response would likely come from his constituency association. A response never came.
Superwash owner and FNM Free Town candidate Dionisio D’Aguilar has also been a target of Mr Roberts, who has alleged that the Superwash CEO is “habitual tax dodger.”
Mr D’Aguilar has strongly denied the allegations and told Tribune Business that these attempts showed the governing PLP, and particularly its chairman, were “becoming more and more desperate” in their efforts to retain power.
Comments
B_I_D___ 6 years, 11 months ago
Ouch...that's not good...
Sickened 6 years, 11 months ago
It looks terrible. Who does the background checks for these major parties? Whoever they are, they need to be changed as they are embarrassing the candidates and the parties at large.
moncurcool 6 years, 11 months ago
This is 2017. Bradley Roberts drag up 2001 where the man laid the IRS. In fact who has not been audited by the IRS? Maybe bradley should go drag up on his party Mps who Owe government corporations. Maybe he should search into what their candidates in Grand Bahama doing in kickbacks. This gutter politics shows desperation. Politics has to rise above this gutter level.
ohdrap4 6 years, 11 months ago
gutter level is not to pay bills
i hate bill duckers, from whatever party they come from
Well_mudda_take_sic 6 years, 11 months ago
Just another shining example of the FNM's non-existent good judgement with Minnis and Collie at the helm. As I've said many times before, a Minnis led FNM government, with the likes of Symonette and D'Aguilar, would make Christie and his merry band of bandits seem like petty thieves in a lollipop store! Please Bahamian voters....THINK, THINK, THINK!!!
Alex_Charles 6 years, 11 months ago
why would they nominate this guy?
like is there a such thing as vetting?!
Tax dodgers, thugs, hustlers, foreign bank account holders liars, alleged rapists etc... Seems like the field of politics is reserved for the scum amongst us.
jackbnimble 6 years, 11 months ago
Interesting that the chairman of the PLP all about trying to air the dutty laundry of the FNM candidates while he his party leader remain mum on the firzgerald and shame scandals. So what are we as voters to do? Reject the FNM candidates and allow Fitzgerald, Shame and the rest a yinna to get back in office to continue begging teifin' and cutting deals under the table? You are both just different sides of the same damned coin and both sides are pathetic!
Sickened 6 years, 11 months ago
Oh Bradley got plenty dirt on his fellow PLP's as well. That is how he keeps them in check and keeps their ill-gotten gains moving up the chain of command. It's quite a well organized racket they have going. Step out of line and information is leaked and you become a statistic.
Greentea 6 years, 11 months ago
People, find a good independent candidate to vote for, so you can sleep at night for the next five years guilt free. Because these parties are JOKING- No difference. Anyone who owe this kinda money- is prime for corruption. I cannot STAND people who don't pay their flippin bills- and they all over these parties. The DNA have a serial renter who owe a slew a people across eastern Nassau but claims to be a millionaire on the declaration and a dude brandishing a gun on social media. The PLP -95% of them just disgraceful and possibly corrupt and the FNM- this one and the next shady one running for Eleuthera, the two forced to resign from the Senate all Slim and not so Slim Shadys. What a disgraceful lot. Country going to hell with these people driving. Dumb and crooked. God help us all.
Cobalt 6 years, 11 months ago
So what if he owes taxes in the U.S.??? I owe taxes in the U.S. too!
Well_mudda_take_sic 6 years, 11 months ago
@Cobalt - Why is it I can just hear you saying - "So what if he steals, I steal too!" Or better still - "So what if he murdered an American in the U.S., this is the Bahamas and he ain't murdered no Bahamian!" God only knows how that head of yours is wired Cobalt.
Greentea 6 years, 11 months ago
Cobalt is definitely part of the problem. This charge speaks to a lack of honor and character. It signals narcissism, criminality, piss poor fiscal management, a failure to take responsible for mistakes and thus a complete lack of accountability. Such persons do not need to darken the halls of Parliament. I hope he loses.
Cobalt 6 years, 11 months ago
Listen idiots....... tax dept is different from tax evasion. Lots of people in the United States owe taxes. So what you're supposed to do is consolidate your dept and initiate a payment plan with the IRS.
Lots of people owe the government money. Lots of people are in dept. The United States and the Bahamas as well are millions and trillions of dollars in dept to China. Being in dept doesn't make you a bad person. And how do any of you know that he's truly unaccountable? How do you know the exact details of his finances? If he was guilty of evading taxes, the FBI would have issued a warrant for his arrest by now. Is he a prudent businessman? Maybe not. But that doesn't make him a crook.
Cobalt 6 years, 11 months ago
Being in dept is not stealing you jackass. Many Americans owe the IRS. The article did not state that he is evading taxes..... it simply states that the man owes money.
The more important issue is whether or not he has been disbarred. If he has, then that doesn't make him a very honorable candidate and he should step down. But owing money to the government doesn't make him a villain. All of you probably owe money to some local agency in some way shape or form. So shut the hell up.
banker 6 years, 11 months ago
I know someone else who owes US taxes and ran from them to the Bahamas.
licks2 6 years, 11 months ago
Heck I was audited by the IRS and sent a bill for $1200 from 1996 while working in Washington D.C. . .I contacted them to find out how come I owned them. . .they told me that they don't care what I say. . .I owe them the money. . .I went to my job and was told that they don't know what the IRS was talking about. . .but I better pay the money or they IRS will take my salary! I sent the $1200 to them and thought it was that. . .until they called me again 2 years after and informed me that I owe the same $1200. . .my bank gave me the check stub that showed that the US Treasury had gotten the money. . .their big stamp on the check! I called them and informed them that I have the check from the bank showing their stamp and proof that they cashed the check I sent them. . .they told me that they don't care. . .their records show that I owe $1200. . .to date I refused to pay them a next red cent. . .so I too have a bill with that mess called IRS!!
glasshalffull 6 years, 11 months ago
JUST SAYING... I MUCH PREFER A BEGGAR TO A THIEF OR A TAXDODGER.. NO MATTER WHERE IT HAPPENS... DISHONESTY IN ANY FORM IS BAD..... TAXES ARE NEEDED TO PAY FOR SERVICES SUCH AS HOSPITAL, WATER, ROADS WHATEVER THE AMOUNT ... COMPLY THEN COMPLAIN... THE PARTIES ALL HAVE SKELETON IN THEIR CLOSETS BUT ... I WILL HOLD MY NOSE AND VOTE FOR THE BEGGAR ... NOT THE TAXDODGER.. PLUS DR. MINNIS NEEDS SOME BASIC SOCIAL SKILLS, ... HE WILL PASS YOU BOUNCE YOU WITHOUT SAYING A WORD.. MORNING NOON OR NIGHT.. NO MANNERS
SAY WHAT YOU LIKE ABOUT CHRISTIE ... HE HAS A LITTLE MANNERS (MIDDLE FINGER ASIDE)... PITY LBT MESS IN HER NESS.
Sickened 6 years, 11 months ago
When you say 'beggar' are you referring to Fitzgerald??
banker 6 years, 11 months ago
I prefer people who don't type in all capitals and use complete sentences with punctuation.
glasshalffull 6 years, 11 months ago
"Banker ... you are majoring in the minor, CAPITALS and PUNCTUATIONS does not change the subject or the substance. your style is to find faults ... mine is to have a decent discussion, now i see most of you cannot have any semblance of basis common sense to have a discussion . have a great day
sheeprunner12 6 years, 11 months ago
Michael Foulkes has been around the FNM top level leadership team for at least 15-20 years ......... Is it because he has a "legacy surname" that he appears to be like teflon??????? ........ what happens in the PLP elite inner circle???????? ........ Tit for Tat going on up in here
DDK 6 years, 11 months ago
Still, not a good bomb shell (if it IS a bombshell)! Agree with the call for thorough vetting of candidates. Trust the FNM hierarchy will respond to this allegation post-haste. Bradley Roberts is one busy dude!
licks2 6 years, 11 months ago
MR ROBERTS NEEDS TO TELL US HOW THAT STOLEN CAR MR. SMITH DROVE AROUND AND INFORMED HIM THAT THE CAR WAS INDEED STOLEN. . .THEN ENDED UP BACK IN FLORIDA PARKED IN THE STREET!! SO MR. ROBERTS KNEW ABOUT A STOLEN CAR AND DID NOT REPORT THE SAME TO THE POLICE!
The_Oracle 6 years, 11 months ago
This tit for tat between parties and supporters shows the lack of brain power in the Bahamas, however, realize one thing: Minnis is the first leader of the FNM who was not formerly a PLP, and may well be the First Prime Minister who was not a former PLP! That alone moves us forward. And I hope he does.
sheeprunner12 6 years, 11 months ago
BUT ........... I thought that Perry had called for an end to the "gutter politics" and to keep the campaigning clean ......... BUT .......he is the chief name-caller on the stage!!!!!! ..... Watsayu???
MonkeeDoo 6 years, 11 months ago
Bradley owes a ton of money in Real Property Tax ! Why he don't talk about that ?
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