PM: Squatters have to pay property tax

He said property tax is the law and so umbrage to those advocating a non-payment stance as this is akin to breaking the law.

He added that some who have advocated not paying, are happily paying property tax on properties overseas.

Asked why not revert to the old rates of Land and Building Tax, Rowley said that law had been repealed. He hit the Opposition for complaining that the property tax is oppressive when they originally proposed a land tax, at much higher rates. Rowley made the point he has been paying some form of property/land tax since he was age 17.

Asked to quantify how much tax he would pay, Rowley said he is committed to paying the property tax and estimates the tax on his Glencoe, West Trinidad home to be “several hundred” dollars.

He said the sum is notable but, “not oppressive”.

Rowley hit the “mischief and misinformation” being propagated against the tax.

“When you enter Parliament, you take an oath to uphold the law. Property tax is the law! Until it is changed, all the shenanigans of amnesty and hiding and lying are against the law. It is a reasonable law and we will demonstrate that and proceed to collect the tax,” he said.

“I have a good feeling about this, that the average citizen when they see the truth and realise they are being misled by misinformation, they would realise they are making a contribution to national development by paying their property tax,” Rowley sa