Both The Nassau Guardian and The Tribune ran front page stories about comments by Mr. Shane Gibson (PLP) Minister of Labour that he intends to "expose" opposition MP's that have real property tax arrears because of recent allegations, and subsequent confession, that the government consultant for their VAT implementation team had dodged paying his for a decade.
At first blush I agreed, that he should expose them for their hypocrisy, if it exists, but he must also expose members of his party.
But I thought about it a little more, and remembered there is law that instructs each Member of Parliament to declare their financial position including assets and liabilities.
If they were doing this, all these things would be self evident, assuming they would be honest.
What really is sad is that a PLP faithful had to be embarrassed for the government to take notice and admit there is a huge problem with collection of property taxes as mandated by law.
Had the tax bureaucracy and MP's been doing their jobs, surely these folks would be brought before the courts if they do not attempt an agreement to pay?
Most times I read the political diatribe from MP's, I remember the following quote from Henry Hazlitt's, Is Politics Insoluble:
"So while we may doubt that a truly "ideal" government will ever be designed, or "scientific" political institutions ever developed, we need not abandon the effort to improve them. But we must be prepared for setbacks and discouragements for as far as we can see."
Download a pdf copy from the Foundation of Economic Education (FEE), here…
If Mr. Gibson, and other politicians, were able to separate governance from their political party the country might be able to resolve some of these long outstanding matters.
How can the tax authorities prosecute private individuals when they do not hold themselves to the standards of the laws they pass?
In the final, if the MP's completed their valuations as the law requires maybe Parliament can get on with governance instead of these distractions?
So yes Mr. Gibson, expose the tax dodgers, expose them all.
Please Mr.Gibson,expose them all each and every one on both sides & not only property tax but all the other places they owe money to as well.I don’t think you will because more than likely the whole of parliament would be shamed(If they have any shame)
Good in theory but wrong in practice.. The last thing we need is a bunch of political hacks ratting on each other.. What is must needed is to get honest people into government regardless of political belief or persuasion..
What might work is the appointment of a nonpartisan Public Disclosure Committee, of which each member would be approved by an appointed representative of each active political party.. The Committee would be empowered with broad investigation powers to review each elected and appointed member of government.. Before taking up their appointment or seat in Parliament, they must pass a full disclosure review demonstrating that all moneys, assessments and taxed owed in there individual names, family names or in corporate and trustee names must be fully paid up and within the proper designated legal time frame.. Any failure of non-disclosure and/or specific acts of fraud, the asset or real property in question would be forfeited to the State upon the approval of the Public Disclosure Committee..
This just might work and would be a first step in cleaning-up of our government.. However, given the political integrity of government, one would seriously doubt that such a worthwhile act could ever be enacted by Parliament.. For such a committee to be effective, it must be enacted into statutory law so that it has the power and authority to act in the National Interest (namely, honest government) of the country.. Truth and honesty must always be a national goal for better and more effective government..
While I may agree in theory, and also that it will never happen,
I’ll settle for shining a light on the Bastards!
Be nice to see them scurry for cover for a change!
What ever happened to “My government will be clear & transparent” ?