By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
FREE National Movement (FNM) Chairman Darron Cash is calling for the resignation or firing of Ishmael Lightbourne, Consultant and Coordinator of the government’s VAT unit, after Mr Lightbourne revealed he has not paid property taxes for ten years.
According to an article published in a local newspaper, Mr Lightbourne says he “recognises the hypocrisy and contradiction” of advocating for VAT despite not paying property taxes.
He is quoted as saying: “I understand the hypocrisy. That has been a major source of pain an discomfort.”
Mr Lightbourne owes the government $7,743, which includes interest payments.
In response to his revelation, Mr Cash, in a press statement yesterday, said: “Mr Lightbourne’s decision to not pay property taxes for ten years suggests a wilful refusal to pay. Consequently he has lost all legitimacy as the principal spokesman and advocate of VAT.
“This disclosure and admission are enough for Mr Lightbourne to tender his resignation as VAT Coordinator with immediate effect. This resignation should be non-negotiable and if he refuses to resign he must be fired in order for the Government to preserve what little integrity it has left on the issue of tax reform.”
Mr Cash added: “As Mr Lightbourne and his VAT team talk tough about how to hold people accountable for paying their taxes, especially poor people, why does he feel he should be let off the hook? What is so special about him, other than his connection to the Prime Minister and this government?
“At a time when the Christie administration remains determined to force VAT down the throats of the Bahamian people, right-thinking, fair-minded citizens who want to pay their fair share have been pleading for consideration of alternatives and for the government to collect the taxes that are already on the books.”
Comments
proudloudandfnm 10 years, 9 months ago
Fired and charged with tax evasion. His bill is a pitiful $534.00 a year. $44.50 a month and he says he can't afford it? That is a bold faces lie. He chose not to pay it knowing full well the government will not collect it.
Why is his million dollar home only valued at $300,000.00?
And these morons tell us we NEED VAT.
You know I think I will simply refuse to pay VAT.....
B_I_D___ 10 years, 9 months ago
I like how people are only suggesting he resign...he's admitted to not paying it, he should be brought up before the courts and charged...and have his house re-evaluated at the proper rate.
realfreethinker 10 years, 9 months ago
You are correct how can any house on cable beach be worth only $300,000.00. He get them to value the house at a low price and he still wont pay. I bet if he decides to sell it he will ask for more than a million dollars CROOK
sheeprunner12 10 years, 9 months ago
Ishmael Lightbourne makes the PLP government look BAD............ I wonder if he is one of the "surrogates" Doc Rollins was talking about??????????? LOL
TalRussell 10 years, 9 months ago
Shouldn't we reserve jail cells for both golds and reds under a fair justice system? Of course PM Christie must now do the responsible thing and rethink sending a tax dodger before the people to tell them they should want pay their VAT, but I'm curious, if the Comrade Red Chairman is equally calling for sending his fellow reds backsides to jail for tax dodging?
Guy 10 years, 9 months ago
Jail them ALL Tal!
TalRussell 10 years, 9 months ago
To my knowledge only two politicians have ever been jailed in Bahamaland.
hj 10 years, 9 months ago
just wondering if all the politicians who are trying to impose new taxes on us pay their own taxes and bills or they are "exempt"?
B_I_D___ 10 years, 9 months ago
They are exempt in their minds and do as they please.
TalRussell 10 years, 9 months ago
Comrade HJ, if you were to put all the politicians of past and present from both sides of the House into one really big room and the tax police were to surround it, use their bull horns to call out; "all you politician who still owe the government or have been forgiven your taxes, to please place your hands over your heads and walk out," how many do you honestly think would still be left in the room?
hj 10 years, 9 months ago
my point exactly
B_I_D___ 10 years, 9 months ago
Yeap...I'm telling you...they think they are gods and deity and above everyone else...taxes are for the little people, not them.
ohdrap4 10 years, 9 months ago
the late paol adderley said: in the bahamas , only the poor or the unfortunate pay taxes
Honestman 10 years, 9 months ago
Has Lightbourne explained his rationale for not paying his Property Tax? Just interested in what goes through the mind of these people? He should be removed immediately from his current role.
realfreethinker 10 years, 9 months ago
He said he could not afford to pay the $534.00 a year. that is absolute bullshit
Honestman 10 years, 9 months ago
Why do we put up with bullsht like this? In any developed country he would be out on his ss after a comment like that.
realfreethinker 10 years, 9 months ago
the crazy thing is he aint resign and the pm aint fire him go figure. CORRUPT TO THE CORE
baclarke 10 years, 9 months ago
This government is a bunch of crooks, this takes away what little respect I have left for them. If that guy can't pay his property tax, and his property is valued so low, he needs to let me buy his property off of him for 300k, then i'll get it re-evaluated and resell it.
John 10 years, 9 months ago
This whole VAT is leading up to the new world order where there will be attempts to put the entire world on a one government system. This of course will be satanic and eventually no one will be able to buy or sell 'unless they receive the mark of the beast'. It will be the mark of a satan.
Observer 10 years, 9 months ago
This stuff is serious. If each one of us who benefits from what ever this country offers should carry his/her fair share of the country's financial obligation the burden should be lighter. Let that person that is without fault, cast the first stone. Sincere sympathy, Bro. Lightbourne, but, you must pay your national obligation too. Perhaps the government will consider the implementation of property lien, which can be sold at auction on a regular basis to increase cash flow, until RPT is made current on all real estate.
B_I_D___ 10 years, 9 months ago
Sell it at the assessed value...govt takes what is owed them and the balance goes to the owner...clean sale, no take backs. So in this case, he has his house valued at 300K...govt sells it to the first person to pony up 300K and take their RPT portion...THEN they reassess it for its proper value and move forward!!
TalRussell 10 years, 9 months ago
You gotta believe I am a big fan of one party attempting to score points by launching negative attacks at their opposition and in this particular case with the reds against the governing party. .But shouldn't Comrade Chairman Darron know that he is opening his own reds to some return stone throwing at those non-payment of government loans and taxes reds who over the years, included when they held the combination to the peoples public treasure money safe, avoided paying the government what they owed?
birdiestrachan 10 years, 9 months ago
Surprise, Surprise, if one digs deep enough there will be many persons who have not paid their taxes. It is to bad that this has happened. I am sure it will be corrected. It is important that all I are doted and every T crossed. because those fellows are all over the place as vultures looking for prey. Cash and his party are good at finding faults. Do they have any solutions?
The Bahamian people need not fear. that if the PLP looses the election because of VAT. the FNM will not come into power and reverse VAT. the FNM Government in 2007 met the Country in a good financial position they spent money like drunken sailors. Why in the World did they buy the old Freeport Inn ?. Cash should think about the black lash he is receiving from his attacks on the commissioner of Police .from real Police. Mr. Watkins and Mr. Paul Thompson
TalRussell 10 years, 9 months ago
Comrade Birdiesstrachan, Comrade Darron made a serious blunder when he went after the Commish of Policeman's, Sooner than later even his own red public will wake up to see through his bag of red tricks, all in an attempt to keep him current in the print media, cause few others carry anything this man has to say. The Tribune hasn't published a singe column from Comrade Sister Sha'run" T; in months. Maybe follow suit with Cashee.
B_I_D___ 10 years, 9 months ago
So big ol Brad coming to the defense...says Ishmael is not the only one...so effectively it is OK...and oh...he's a fine upstanding Christian man...so really, we shouldn't be holding him accountable for his taxes...this country is truly screwed in the head.
Honestman 10 years, 9 months ago
Totally and utterly screwed! What a mentality!
sheeprunner12 10 years, 9 months ago
One thing we do know is .............. the guvment pays da consultants well. Maybe after 5 years, Ishmael Lightbourne will be able to defray his present financial challenges and have some left ova to pay his 7G real property tax bill................ some joke.
Bahamianpride 10 years, 9 months ago
Clearly there are no angels out of any of these politicians. Phifering the peoples money and hiding behind positions to get preferential treatment sames to be business as usually. There has always been a serious problem of discrimination going on where accountability is for the poor, middle class or non connected. This goes on in many countries but every once in a while someone gets nailed in other places. I wonder has any of our biggest named crooks in the last 30 years in Bahamian government gone to jail for Official Misconduct, have to research this? Lastly, the larger problem is when stealing and corruption is systematic can we expect anything different from the streets
The_Oracle 10 years, 9 months ago
Government pays foreign consultants promptly, otherwise the consultants don't consult! I'll always remember Lands and Surveys never having copies of all the maps of the Bahamas, always one missing from each island or area. Turns out the printing company (foreign) always held out a few, usually around major settlements so they'd be sure to be paid! It is we, the Bahamian public, who have accepted this, participated, and lowered the bar below the horizon. Why are we surprised?
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