The Nassau Guardian
Gibson to expose FNM tax dodgers
Minister of Labour and National Insurance Shane Gibson promised yesterday to expose the current and former politicians from the Free National Movement (FNM) who he said have dodged their real property taxes over the years.
Gibson hit out at the FNM for being “hypocritical” in its calls for Ishmael Lightbourne, the government’s value-added tax (VAT) messenger, to resign or be fired over the revelation that he has not paid real property taxes on his West Bay Street property in at least a decade.
“They are hypocrites,” said Gibson before heading into a Cabinet meeting.
He said it would “shock” the public to learn the identities of prominent Bahamians who have never paid real property taxes.
“And when I finish disclosing the details of all of the persons — I’m not going to limit it to persons who are serving now. I’m going to expand it to people who previously served, who while they served didn’t pay their real property tax and who subsequently caught some of the amnesty periods that we would have offered and they paid their real property tax.
“I’m going to show you the hypocrisy in this.
“They can disclose ours. I’ll disclose theirs. I’m not interested in ours.”
In response, FNM Chairman Darron Cash said Gibson’s threat underscores the need for an independent tax administration regime free of political influence.
“The Bahamian people’s tax information should never be vulnerable or exposed to the whim and fancy of politicians who feel they can exploit that information whenever it is politically expedient to do so,” Cash said in a statement.
“ . . .The fact that FNMs might owe taxes is not enough to circumvent a meaningful debate about the issue.
“The fact that people of prominence owe taxes is a clear indication of what might be wrong with the current system. Being broke is not a sin. This administration’s unwillingness to fix a broken system is.”
On Thursday, The Nassau Guardian revealed that Lightbourne had not paid real property taxes for at least a decade even though his beachfront home on West Bay Street is only assessed at $321,000 (land included). As a result his real property tax bill amounts to $534 a year.
Given the controversy over Lightbourne’s taxes, The Nassau Guardian asked several government ministers if they owe real property taxes.
Gibson said he is up to date on his real property taxes, but admitted that he has been delinquent in the past.
“I myself at one point, I was behind,” he said. “I’m current now.”
He suggested that Lightbourne’s unpaid taxes are a reflection of the financial hardships that many in the country have experienced over the past few years.
“Look at BEC, some people can’t afford to pay BEC,” Gibson said.
“Their lights are off home, so we are acting as though the last 10 years were these great 10 years where everybody was able to take care of their obligations.”
Minister of Agriculture V. Alfred Gray said his real property taxes are up to date.
He said politicians and government officials should set the example with tax compliance.
“I know my taxes are up to date and I’m asking my colleagues to do the same thing,” Gray said.
He added: “Bahamian people, including me, do not like to pay taxes. If I had a chance to avoid paying taxes, I would not pay any taxes, but I am a believer in obeying the law and so I pay my taxes and I will challenge anybody to find out that I don’t and I am up to date as much as I am aware.”
Minister of Financial Services Ryan Pinder said he is current with his taxes.
When asked about the Lightbourne controversy, he said it is “unfair” to single out one person or one tax.
“Every Bahamian has an obligation to pay their taxes,” Pinder said.
“I think it’s as simple as that. I don’t think it’s if you’re an MP or not an MP, if you’re a government employee or not. I don’t think that’s the issue.”
He said enforcing taxes like property taxes is a problem for many governments.
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