Stop terrorising people for $10 a month

“Why on earth is the Opposition going out there and frightening squatters about this tax,” Imbert asked. Stressing that the issue of ownership must be settled first, Imbert said a squatter in his Diego Martin North/ East constituency would pay property tax of $20 per month if determined to be a property owner.

“If it is the building alone, it is $10 (per month).” Imbert continued, “So you want to tell me you want to frighten a whole country for $10 a month and that is what they (Opposition) are doing.” He said the truth will, “come out in the wash,” after the current valuation exercise is completed and notices are subsequently sent to property owners.

Al-Rawi said when squatters apply to the State for certificates of comfort, this is a situation, “where the State acknowledges that somebody has a propriety right as a squatter.” He said those people can then move from certificates of comfort to leases.

In those circumstances, Al-Rawi stated, “The advice rendered so far, is that they will be entitled to pay taxes because you can’t claim that you’re the owner, be recognised by the State that you have an entitlement value and then not pay your taxes as a land owner or a property owner.” The AG explained that people can acquire State land by way of adverse possession, if they have been in uninterrupted occupation of that land for 30 years. Adverse possession is a doctrine under which a person in possession of land owned by someone else may acquire valid title to it, so long as certain common law requirements are met, and the adverse possessor is in possession for a sufficient period of time, as defined by a statute of limitations.

In the case of private lands, Al-Rawi said people can claim for adverse possession if they have occupied those lands, uninterrupted for 16 years.

He said people who want to acquire lands by adverse possession, take an application to the court and the court considers bringing the land under the provisions of the Real Property Limitation Ordinance. The AG said this process allows these people to provide clear evidence that they are property owners.

On whether people occupying State and private lands for less than 30 and 16 years respectively would pay property tax, Al-Rawi said, “ That matter I have asked the Solicitor General Department to consider.” He said the matter is complicated and one must be, “very careful not to run away with conclusions.” The AG explained this is why Government has laid four bills in Parliament, “that deal with the compulsory registration of all lands in TT.” He said this, “is going to have the method of verifying title for every single inch of land in TT.” Al-Rawi said this is an Inter-American Development Bank project that, “will begin in Tobago and make its way in declared areas, inch by inch throughout TT.” He added,” So the entire process of property tax is going to fit in very neatly to the system by which we claim title in TT.” Imbert observed that under the Property Tax Act, State land is exempt from property tax. He reiterated that if a person is squatting on State land, that person owns the dwelling house but ownership of the land must be determined. Imbert also reiterated that Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley never said squatters would have to pay property tax.

Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young said after all of the determinations Al-Rawi and Imbert referred to are done, the issue boils down to the rental value of the property and the fear mongering tactics by the Opposition were uncalled for.