Deal with corruption before property tax

Firstly, the country needs to generate revenue, so that all things being equal, property tax is good.

Taxation can take many forms — VAT, PAYE, corporation tax etc. However, before more wealth can go into the hands of the Government, it needs to assure the population that rampant corruption is on the decline.

The Licensing Department seems to be the most glaring and corrupt arm of the Ministry of Works and Transport and nothing is being done to arrest the situation. I have heard at least 10 times how easy it is to get a vehicle inspected or transferred without the lifting of a finger. How is it that the Government does not know that? Or if it knows, why is it not stopping? The Police Service wreaks of unprofessional conduct and delinquency, so much so that some people liken some police to criminals.

There are allegations that some high-ranking police control drug blocks and that some officers and their close friends and relatives are treated above the law continuously. Why, for instance, do cars drive on the shoulders of highways right next to police vehicles with impunity? Collecting more revenue is not the solution at this point in the life of the Government.

Every day in one minute a deed for the transfer of a million- dollar property generates approximately $35,000 in stamp duty/taxes. And properties are bought and sold like hot bread in Trinidad.

If there is a hole in a barrel (no matter how large or small), no amount of water will fill it.

Similarly, no amount of taxes (with rampant corruption in key sectors of the country) will satisfy the demands of any government.

Savings for an individual can occur whether the person earns $3,000 or $30,000 a month. It is not the quantum but the ability to save and the consistency in saving that count. Not an example of corruption but some contractors have told me, for example, they charge the Government more for building roads, drains etc simply because the Government takes too long to pay. Why can’t the Government assure these people they will be guaranteed payment in a fixed period and so cut contract costs in half? The mindset of people in the Public Service and in key parts of the Government has to change.

People have to recognise that over-invoicing on drugs, or faulty inventories at hospitals, benefits one or two people but damages the rest of our country.

Individual attitudes about honesty, integrity, hard work and discipline must change.

With that change an institution can change. After that a sector, and then the whole country changes.

To end, the Opposition should stop politicising the property tax issue. It will be heard more if it does.

There are so many unanswered questions. For example, why was the Property Tax Act not repealed by the UNC-led Government, and thereby forcing the current Government to bring new legislation to debate the issue afresh?

YASEEN AHMED Woodbrook, PoS