SHARLENE RAMPERSAD
The Government currently has no definitive timeline for the implementation of property tax.
This from Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Brian Manning who told Guardian Media even when legislation is passed for local government reform, corporations will be funded by the Central Government.
The ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) has signaled their intention to pass the Miscellaneous Provisions (Local Government Reform) Bill 2020 by a simple majority, bypassing the need for Opposition support.
Speaking in Parliament last Friday, Manning said property tax implementation was critical to local government reform. At the time, he blasted the Opposition United National Congress (UNC), saying they were trying to block local government reform.
“They know full well that Local government has to be funded by property taxes and that is why they have been going to great lengths from the very beginning to obstruct both, both local government reform and also the implementation of reasonable and sensible property taxes. It would be virtually impossible to effectively finance local bodies and grant them the autonomy that they deserve without the implementation of property taxes,” Manning said on Friday.
However, when asked yesterday about the timeline for implementation of property taxes, Manning responded, “Not to date.”
Asked about whether the Government would consider delaying the implementation, given complaints by citizens about the high cost of living, Manning said, “You cannot delay what is yet to be decided. There is no definite timetable for the implementation of property taxes.”
When he was asked whether the non-implementation would put the Government in a precarious position with their plan to implement local government reform, Manning said, “Local govt reform is a gradual process and will not happen overnight even with the passage of legislation. Implementation will be a gradual process and of course, the well-being of the national community will always be first.”
He said local government bodies will continue to be funded by the Central Government and various “other sources” that currently exist.