The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

There are many hardworking, loyal Civil Servants, but...

In a letter to the editor of The Tribune, published Monday, November 25, 2013, someone calling themselves, “A Hardworking, Loyal Civil Servant”, offers a somewhat defensive missive about tax cheats and admonishes; “Pay your taxes”.

He or she is right that far too many people and businesses, as the old joke goes, allegedly pay Customs officers, instead of the Excise Tax, because they are dishonest. Regretfully though, and far too often, a civil servant is equally culpable as they aid and abet the smuggling.

Is “A Hardworking, Loyal Civil Servant” overlooking some important points?

Maybe some taxpayers resent the fact that other people are just escorted through without paying taxes by other loyal civil servants, so they do the same?

Do some folks think the excise rates are too high and therefore declare only a fraction of their imports?

As the Laffer Curve informs (http://www.laffercenter.com/the-laffer-center-2/the-laffer-curve), taxes can be raised to the point that they obtain less revenue.

One of the most obvious things being ignored is that it is the responsibility of the civil service bureaucracy to enforce the laws that mandate the taxes being avoided.

This in no way implies that tax cheats are right in doing what they are accused of by “A Hardworking, Loyal Civil Servant”, but it does suggest there is more than enough blame to go around. Fixing the problem so more tax dollars – outlined in existing laws – are collected by weeding out corruption seems to be necessary.

Having said all that, it is agreed that there are many hardworking and loyal civil servants labouring under some very difficult circumstances, but the apparent bad apples are not helping their cause by being co-conspirators.

RICK LOWE

www.weblogbahamas.com

November 29, 2013.