MSJ: Govt put cart before the horse

“The PNM Government led by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and his Minister of Finance Colm Imbert must come clean on the Property Tax issue,” MSJ political leader David Abdulah said in a statement yesterday.

He reported that at a media conference last May, Imbert said that property tax due and payable in 2016, will be equal to the amount paid in land and building tax in 2009, with full implementation in 2017. Abdulah further reported that in in the Mid-Year Budget Review presented in Parliament on April 8, 2016, Imbert stated a team was in the field doing assessments and they expect that 100 percent of assessments will be completed in 2017, so the property tax can be fully implemented in 2018.

Abdulah said there was was no prior public education process and no statement by Imbert about the team conducting assessments.

“In the circumstances, what is now being attempted is nothing short of madness.” He also pointed out that in the most progressive countries, property tax is allocated not to central government but to local government, which was the People’s National Movement’s own position during local government reform consultations.

“Today the cart is being put before the horse as it seems the main driver of property tax is need for the Minister of Finance to raise revenue.

This is wrong. People should be able to see where their property tax money are going...

to improve community services.” The MSJ issued a list of demands including that Imbert fulfills the commitment made in Parliament that property owners/occupiers will pay the 2009 Land and Building Tax amount for 2017, and if that is not the case, he (Imbert) and the Cabinet be brought before the Privileges Committee for, “grossly misleading the Parliament”.

Abdulah said the MSJ believes there must be some form of property tax but it is concerned on, “how it is being done and whether it will place an unfair burden on some while others get away lightly.”