The JLP had the excuse of an unprecedented Global Recession which knocked flat the 2 pillars of the Economy: Mining, Tourism and Remittance.
What was the PNP excuse during the years of unprecedented Global Growth for driving the Economy into the ground with unsustainable borrowing and devaluation ???
Election going call or something else in the offing.. cause is only election time yuh this level of 3-Card Trick and blatant lying and distortion of the facts from the PNP and their cultists...
Excuse? Are you mad or what? You are now saying your party should be allowed to sit and do nothing, waiting for things to work themselves out? There can be no excuse; you come up with solutions to fix the problem.
Ahm.. there was a VALID externally driven reason for the borrowing under the JLP.. what was the VALID externally driven reason for the borrowing under the PNP ?
Montego Bay tops named delinquents - Businesses and individuals owe TAJ J$3.5b
Published: Tuesday | August 20, 2013 3 Comments
Adrian Frater, News Editor
Western Bureau:
With the parish council losing approximately $300 million in potential property taxes annually and numerous individuals and businesses before the court for non-compliance amounting to billions of dollars, St James appears to be a haven for tax dodgers.
In yesterday's Gleaner, Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) published the names of 168 businesses and individuals from St James who were hauled before the tax court in the March-May period for their failure to pay over taxes, inclusive of corporate income tax, PAYE, education tax, general consumption tax and asset tax, amounting to J$3.5 billion.
"I would rather not comment based on what is published because the accuracy of the information could be in question," said Nathan Robb, president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
According to Robb, based on information that has come to him, he is of the view that some of the so-called delinquents have issues that are unconnected to non-compliance.
"If you should speak to some of the businesses named as delinquents, you will discover that many of them are having issues with the tax department," said Robb. "Sometimes it is possible that people have paid up but their names still appear on the list."
'tax system too difficult'
The Gleaner made contact with several of the businesses and individuals named as delinquents, but except for one woman, who asked not to be identified, they all refused, arguing that doing so might further infuriate the TAJ.
"Our tax system is just too difficult and the draconian style of Tax Administration Jamaica is not making it any easier," the businesswoman said. "Some people want to comply but the process is just too cumbersome."
Despite his reservation about the accuracy of the list, Robb said he fully endorsed the efforts to collect the billions owed to Government in taxes.
12> Martin Baxter, Gleaner Writer The names of more than 400 taxpayers accused of delinquency before the courts have been published in accordance with Jamaica's agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Collectively, the accused delinquents owe the Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) just under J$10 billion and range from individuals, some of whom are high profile, to businesses, some of which are named multiple times in the extensive list.
Among the 460 names that have been brought before the court during the period of March and May of this year by the TAJ are household names such as talk-show host and former Jamaica Labour Party parliamentarian Clive Mullings. Matter 'being dealt with'
Mullings, who was part of the Montego Bay Revenue Service Centre (RSC) contingent that collectively owed just short of J$4 billion, told The Gleaner the matter was "being dealt with" and that he was unhappy about the process of publishing the names of those owing taxes to the State.
"A lot of these things are assessments and they're often challenged," he said, noting he intended to dispute the case.
Another household name on the list of 'delinquent taxpayers before the court' is chairman of the South East Regional Health Authority, Lyttleton 'Tanny' Shirley, who told The Gleaner of his and his wife's inclusion on the list: "We are disputing tax penalties and it's before the court and we are dealing with it."
Shirley, who operates Mitchell's Auto Supplies Ltd, which also appears on the list, said a second court date had yet to be set.
Eight revenue centres across the island have taken the action on monies owed to them across a range of criteria, including general consumption tax, education tax, income tax, PAYE, company tax and corporate income tax.
Included as one of the stipulations in Jamaica's Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies & Technical Memorandum of Understanding, part of the IMF agreement, is "the publication, without delay, of delinquent taxpayers and traders upon the initiation of court action (intended in the staff-level understandings to be set as a structural benchmark, and already implemented)".
The TAJ said it was encouraging taxpayers who have difficulty meeting their obligations to make arrangements to avoid court action. martin.baxter@gleanerjm.com
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