Injunction not a blow to Govt’s property tax plans

Commenting on the ruling made by Justice Frank Seepersad in the San Fernando High Court on Wednesday, Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Stuart Young said this injunction was not in place when Seepersad made his first ruling on May 19 to stop the implementation of the tax.

In a statement on May 24, Finance Minister Colm Imbert said legal counsel advised that no injunction was in place at that time to prevent property owners from submitting valuation forms on a voluntary basis.

Imbert has repeatedly said the current exercise is an information gathering one and is not the tax’s implementation.

Young confirmed to reporters at yesterday’s post-Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s that, “the matter is going to be appealed.” He said the State’s attorneys would file the notices of appeal either yesterday or today.

Young also reminded reporters that the Court of Appeal will hear the State’s appeal of Seepersad’s May 19 ruling when it sits at the Hall of Justice in Port-of-Spain on Tuesday.

He underscored that, “this Government has always said it will abide by the legal process.”