Govt moving to fire Gladstone Turner of TAAD?

[Time]

If they take Gladstone's job then he should publicly ask the top foreign goverments to take away the visa's of the top officials of TADD, Minstry of Finance and the Ministry of the Public Service.

Gladstone needs Danny Walker or Chris Christie as Commissioner of Taxes or whatever is the Title of Head of TADD.

Tax saga deepens

Published: Saturday | June 11, 2011


Audley Shaw





Erica Virtue, Senior Gleaner Writer FINANCE MINISTER Audley Shaw has distanced the Ministry of Finance and himself from alleged attempts to remove Gladstone Turner from his job.

Turner is the team leader of the Special Enforcement team from the Tax Administration and Assessment Department (TAAD), the unit that hunts tax cheats in Jamaica.

Word reaching this newspaper is that officials from the finance ministry and officials from the TAAD believe the Government and the finance ministry have been embarrassed by Turner's comments in a television interview on Thursday night following an aborted tax- compliancce operation.

Credible sources from the department have told The Gleaner that attempts are being made to remove the outspoken public servant from the unit and from his job.

Shaw, responding to questions on the matter from The Gleaner yesterday, distanced himself from any attempts to dismiss the public servant.

"I do not interfere with either the Tax Compliance Programme or staffing in any of the departments under my portfolio. Please direct your queries to the financial secretary, or the commissioner general, Tax Administration, Jamaica," Shaw responded.

Viralee Lattibeaudiere, who heads the department, and public relations officer Merris Haughton could not be located or contacted by telephone since the operation was made public.

Turner led an enforcement team to Auto Traders 2000 Limited, a business place operated by Ricky Vaz, brother of information minister Daryl Vaz, to collect outstanding taxes dating back to 1994.

The issue spanned three TAAD tiers of discussions, according to Turner.
preferential treatment

Speaking on CVM Television on Thursday night, he said the issue was fraught with "curry favour and brown stew", Jamaican terms indicating preferential treatment, as the team was stopped in its tracks when instructions were given by senior executives at the TAAD for the operation to be halted.

Turner said it was not true that money was paid to the officials on the day of the raid.

At Wednesday's post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Vaz went down the wicket on the subject, insisting that the officials collected $4 million on the spot. The public servant rubbished Vaz's claims, saying instead that the following day when he went to office, a cheque for $4 million was paid, and later, $1 million was paid.

He said the $5 million demanded by the department was only a fraction of what was owed, and indebtedness dated back 17 years

[Mosiah]

Vaz said he will demand that the tax people discipline Turner, but it will be an administrative operation, not a political one.

Then why does he have to demand anything?

Let me say it now, because despite posts to the contrary I never said it before - there is clear political interference taking place here. If it did not happen at the time of the raid, no doubt it is happening now!

Trust mi, given Vaz's statements and emotion about the entire thing, even if Turner was legitimately fired by the tax authorities, the country will view the dismissal only one way - Vaz got the man fired because he dared to raid his brother's business and then had the nerve to suggest he was lying.

Good move, Vaz!

[Rockman]

I guess the Minister of Information post is now obsolete because of Vaz's non-involvement, and isn't it strange the Govt does not come to the defense of the tax dept?
Why would Daryl zip his brother mouth shut if the politician himself was not involved?
Because the Govt fails to act in a typical manner,there is no longer a question of Govt involvement.

[Mosiah]

Exactly! There may have been some doubt before, but it is clear to all now -

there is no longer a question of Govt involvement.

[Rockman]

So true,Mr President.

[Lazie]

... again people side stepping the facts. When Turner went on air and discussed the man's taxes he was in breach. On NNN yesterday when asked if he was given permission to speak ... he basically dismissed his bosses. During the interview based on his response it appears he gets a commission from what the seize or collect. The fact that the negotiations took place with the TA and not him .... caused him to be peeved.

[Assasin]

The law clearly states that if the money is paid or intent to pay is establish with the TA then it can be aborted. The signed check showed the same date, it doesn't show a time and then 1 million was paid the next day.

Ricky Vaz stated that he didn't have that money on him as he doesn't carry it around but he called his accountant who made the arrangements and paid.

Until there is further evidence of preferred treatment, I see no problem with that argument.

These people only talking about looking bad and dealing with feelings, not one once of evidence. Now the PNP asking for it to be cleared up, no argument anymore about Vaz interference.

[Muadib]

look like Gladstone mek di job get tuh him head... look like him about to lose it..

It happens sometimes with 'overzealous' civil servants... den dem step into deep water..

Transport Authority is a next group...

[Rockman]

Whistle-blower act!

[Rockman]

By all accounts payment in full is the way to halt...

[Muadib]

referee ah blow fi penalty and replay show oddawise... consequences must follow...

[Assasin]

that is not what the law or the tax admin says.

It says payment in full, or most, or credible arrangement to pay.

Not my words, it is from the tax admin.

so now the argument change from Vaz interference to preferred treatment???

[Lazie]

By all accounts payment in full is the way to halt...

.. by whose accounts? Don't mek up stuff as the thread continue.

[Rockman]

Akin to what you called speculation;the field agents sense a deviation from the norm,and undue influence,all established facts.
Here is another,no one knows the policies of the tax department like the field agents,and they say the policy is for full payment..
That is what they do and they have to follow the rules.

[Lazie]

Akin to what you called speculation;the field agents sense a deviation from the norm,and undue influence,all established facts.
Here is another,no one knows the policies of the tax department like the field agents,and they say the policy is for full payment..
That is what they do and they have to follow the rules.

what " deviation from the norm"? On NNN yesterday the TA's policy on such a procedure was read. If the agents go to a scene to seize items and the delinquent payer makes an agreed offer to pay, the operation stops. A senior person from the TA made that clear on Wednesday morning. Again, stop filling in the blanks Rockman.