The Nassau Guardian
Minnis suggests govt has something to hide on tax issue
Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis yesterday charged that some members of the Christie administration have not supported his call for public disclosure of the tax status of parliamentarians because they are afraid of what will be revealed.
“They probably have something to hide,” Minnis said.
“They are employees of the people. The employers have a right to know what your tax status is. The people must demand it from them… We are their employees.
“You can’t go in there, accept the people’s job and not be prepared to disclose information.”
Minnis called on Prime Minister Perry Christie to release the tax status of all members of Parliament and senators last week, after it was revealed that the government’s value-added tax coordinator Ishmael Lightbourne owes more than $100,000 in real property taxes.
Minnis previously said government officials must demonstrate compliance before they ask the general public to comply.
“You chose a job of transparency,” Minnis said. “If you don’t want to be transparent, the people may fire you. We have to be accountable to the people.”
However, several MPs insisted the matter should be a private one.
When asked if MPs should make their tax status public, Minister of State for Finance Michael Halkitis said last week, “People can call for it.
“There is an argument that okay, if you are a public figure then those things should be public. There is also an argument that people still have their private affairs.”
Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller agreed that the information should be kept private.
Miller said such a move would violate the right to privacy.
He admitted that he owes the government taxes.
Halkitis assured that he is fully paid up on real property taxes.
Minnis said all FNM MPs are also paid up. However, he could not say whether FNM senators are up to date on their taxes.
He encouraged those who owe the government to pay.
There is approximately $500 million outstanding in real property taxes, according to government officials.
The Nassau Guardian revealed last Thursday that Lightbourne owes $110,083 in taxes on a commercial property he owns, through a company, at Mount Royal Avenue.
The Guardian previously revealed that Lightbourne owes $7,743 in back taxes on his waterfront residence.
Those stories have triggered intense interest in the real property tax issue. It is unclear yet however, whether the interest has prompted more people to pay their outstanding bills.
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