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Tuesday, 04 March 2008
The Bruce Golding-led administration has carried out its threat to lock up tax dodgers.
Six businessmen accused of dodging the tax man were arrested on warrants Tuesday afternoon and later hauled before the Tax Court at Sutton Street in downtown, Kingston.
One of the accused, Gerry Miller, a used car dealer was arrested after he reportedly failed to pay over more than $35 million in outstanding taxes.
Another businessman Christopher DaCosta was also hauled before the Court Tuesday for failing to pay over taxes.
Mr. DaCosta was offered $50,000 bail when he appeared before senior magistrate Owen Parkins.
He is to return to court on March 19.
All the accused were offered $50,000 bail.
A senior official in the tax department told the RJR News Centre that tax officials and members of the police force are out on the streets searching for business owners who owe the government millions of dollars in income tax.
The official said more than 80 warrants have been prepared to be served on business owners who have repeatedly ignored warnings and letters issued by the Inland Revenue Department.
Since Tuesday morning, the police and tax officials have been visiting businesses with warrants, but some of the operators were able to elude them.
But according to the tax official, the massive drive will continue over the next couple of weeks until those who owe government billions of dollars in taxes are brought before the court.
Shortly after it took office last September the Bruce Golding administration said it would going after tax dodgers who owe billions of dollars.
Finance Minister Audley Shaw said the latest initiative is aimed at plugging a $15 billion gap in the 2007/2008 Budget.
The Bruce Golding-led administration has carried out its threat to lock up tax dodgers.
Six businessmen accused of dodging the tax man were arrested on warrants Tuesday afternoon and later hauled before the Tax Court at Sutton Street in downtown, Kingston.
One of the accused, Gerry Miller, a used car dealer was arrested after he reportedly failed to pay over more than $35 million in outstanding taxes.
Another businessman Christopher DaCosta was also hauled before the Court Tuesday for failing to pay over taxes.
Mr. DaCosta was offered $50,000 bail when he appeared before senior magistrate Owen Parkins.
He is to return to court on March 19.
All the accused were offered $50,000 bail.
A senior official in the tax department told the RJR News Centre that tax officials and members of the police force are out on the streets searching for business owners who owe the government millions of dollars in income tax.
The official said more than 80 warrants have been prepared to be served on business owners who have repeatedly ignored warnings and letters issued by the Inland Revenue Department.
Since Tuesday morning, the police and tax officials have been visiting businesses with warrants, but some of the operators were able to elude them.
But according to the tax official, the massive drive will continue over the next couple of weeks until those who owe government billions of dollars in taxes are brought before the court.
Shortly after it took office last September the Bruce Golding administration said it would going after tax dodgers who owe billions of dollars.
Finance Minister Audley Shaw said the latest initiative is aimed at plugging a $15 billion gap in the 2007/2008 Budget.
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