By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Perry Christie yesterday said he was unaware of Dame Marguerite Pindling’s real property tax debt, adding that what he saw as a politically-motivated leak of her tax information was “impeccably” timed.
In an interview with The Tribune yesterday, Mr Christie said he would first have to review the matter before it could be determined whether or not the outstanding debt – amounting to over $300,000 – will affect his consideration of her possible appointment to the post of governor general.
Following his confirmation in the House of Assembly on Wednesday that Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes will demit office next month, Mr Christie said that there was “no question” that Sir Lynden’s widow, now deputy governor general, would be up for consideration.
“There is no question (Dame Marguerite) would be up for consideration, no question about that,” he said. “I think you must ask Dame Marguerite (about the matter), for me, as the prime minister, I have no official position on it, the papers have carried a screaming headline so I will have to obviously do my due diligence to see what the position is.
“Events change very rapidly in this, so let’s see what happens.”
Mr Christie spoke to The Tribune at a ceremony to introduce successful candidates of the 2013 Arbitration Course, and install officers and executive members of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Bahamas Branch.
He said real property tax was still a “vexing matter” in the country despite the government’s incentivisation for payment.
According to documents obtained by The Tribune, Dame Marguerite owes real property taxes amounting to $306,831.73 on her home in western New Providence and has not paid for at least 14 years.
It is the second leak on outstanding real property tax this year – the first was the arrears of the government’s tax consultant Ishmael Lightbourne.
The revelation also follows reports this week that Bahamas Electricity Corporation Chairman Leslie Miller, and one of his family-owned businesses, owed the corporation a total of $239,533.33.
Yesterday, Mr Christie said he did not think the leaks were indicative of a double standard for high-profile Bahamians, but rather evidence of a political agenda.
He said: “I don’t think so, I just think that the people who leak, leak for political purposes. They don’t leak about the FNMs who owe, this is a perceived leak against the PLPs. If you’re talking about the two high-profile leaks, one was Leslie Miller and the next Dame Marguerite.
“The question is I don’t know, I’ve never asked for a list of people who are in arrears of real property taxes so I really don’t know if there are other people in default in public life. But most certainly those who have leaked it their timing is impeccable,” he said.
“They know exactly why they did it.”
Section 33 of the Real Property Tax Act allows any person facing financial hardship to apply for relief from tax payment.
When contacted by The Tribune on Wednesday, Dame Marguerite said she had “no comment” and then hung up the phone. Mr Christie said he could not confirm whether or not Dame Marguerite had made such an appeal.
Speaking generally, he said: “Whatever Bahamians are eligible for, Dame Marguerite would be eligible for, the same privileges. I don’t know what the current position is and I will have to find out.
Mr Christie said: “With respect to Real Property Tax, it’s been a vexing matter in our country. There are lots of people who have legitimate claims about the charges that are levied against them, but the fact of the matter is there is a process by which they are able to make their complaints and have them heard.
“Secondly,” he said, “we have incentivised the payment of real property taxes to get more people to pay the tax. It doesn’t make sense to have people in our country who are not paying the tax and who, with a bit of incentives, would pay the tax given the added on value to the country.”
The Tribune understands that persons in the tax department have launched an investigation into who would have had access to the information on Dame Marguerite’s account.
Yesterday, Mr Christie said: “The fact of the matter is we’re always concerned when information of a confidential nature is released. It means that persons working for Government are releasing that information, it happens from government to government, we must always be concerned about it because really it was not the intention for that to happen in that way.
He added: “It’s a matter that we have to accept that exists and I imagine will always exist for these matters. You just have to constantly work at improving the way that these matters are dealt with.”
Comments
Kalikgold 10 years, 5 months ago
Tribune yall done messed around and leaked mama Ping business. Somebody getting fired today!
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 5 months ago
It's clear that we need whistleblower protection legislation. If were to succeed as a nation, the corruption has to go, far too many of the political class and their friends and cohorts are getting away with ungodly privileges.
It is also clear that the PM makes his decisions without having a clue of the relevant facts. It's happened too often now to be a "mistake"
Greentea 10 years, 5 months ago
He is obviously being kept in the dark and made to look a FOOL. unfortunately he is too weak to call his circle on it. and if he can't see it- God Bless him- Ray Charles could see this.
B_I_D___ 10 years, 5 months ago
yeap...investigate the person who leaked it and they are gone...how dare you show the public your wrongdoings!! Sad sad sad
proudloudandfnm 10 years, 5 months ago
Communist PLP at it again. Investigate the whistle blower and ignore the allegations...
Fitmiss 10 years, 5 months ago
I agree people should have a right to privacy but we need to protect persons in organizations who have not signed confidentiality agreements, and reveal very vital information. I notice we are more concerned with the fact the info was leaked than the actual facts of the leaked material. Why is there not sufficient background checks into persons placed in such important positions or even considered for these positions? It seems like some of these MP's and political persons feel our laws do not apply to them. I am also sure that if the FNM was in power their information would be leaked also. Long story short, get your house in order especially if you are a public figure. You want to lead and be in crucial positions, remember the higher the monkey climb, the more you see his behind. Make sure clean your closets out and bury the skeletons 10 feet deep. Better yet follow the laws of this land or step down.
asiseeit 10 years, 5 months ago
Once again it is a case of shoot the messenger and ignore the message. This is a glaring example as to why our POLITICAL CLASS is terrified of a FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, they are doing so much wrong I am sure that if it came to light certain politicians would have to go into exile. I do not care who you are, if you are not paying you RPT or any other tax YOU ARE BREAKING THE LAW! The POLITICAL CLASS has wasted, abused, stolen, and bestowed on cronies so much of the BAHAMIAN PEOPLES money that the nation is broke, now the chickens are coming home to roost. There is no defense for people who HAVE BROKEN THE LAW, they are criminals, strait, plain, and simple.
asiseeit 10 years, 5 months ago
One more thing, Mr. P.M. whoever is leaking this information, in my view, is A REAL BAHAMIAN HERO!
B_I_D___ 10 years, 5 months ago
Amen to that...call these delinquent bass-turds out and get them to pay...or file their PDA's...don't just bury and reprimand people. And that goes for all affiliations.
Bahamianpride 10 years, 5 months ago
Agreed, with you and ThisOurs, but like mentioned we must do whatever it takes to get whistleblower laws past to protect these patriotic individuals from retaliation.
John 10 years, 5 months ago
SO T HAPPENS WHEN THEY START LEAKING PEOPLE"S MEDICAL RECORDS?!
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 5 months ago
Get a grip. Whistleblower protection is not a free for all. It gives protection to people who reveal incidents of misconduct or illegality. It does not protect gossipers. Clearly someone's medical records have nothing to do with misconduct, such a person should be prosecuted.
TalRussell 10 years, 5 months ago
Comrades how can the media now pretend that Mrs. Pindling's owing $300,000 or whatever the the actual amount turns out being in back property taxes, is some kind of sudden media revelation? How some investigative reporter has suddenly dug-up dirt on the First Lady of an Independent Bahamaland? Let's review that facts well know by many in the media and the former government, for many years and long before this so-called revelation. Upon his death in 2000, former PM Pindling died a financially broke man but before his death All his bills, including property taxes were paid in full. Mrs. Pindling, far from being the wealthy widow of a former PM. lives off her dead husbands $6,500 monthly government pension. In 1992 Hubert Ingraham, beat Pindling to become Prime Minister. I am reliably informed that the taxes owing on the late PM's family Homestead had in fact been discussed with PM Hubert and would be paid upon the sale of the Pindling home. Despite all these years of the the Pindling home having remained on the real estate market for sale, no serious buyer has come forward. Many would say that under the Hubert regime, foreigners ran up so big bills in the millions of dollars and this same media never tried to make them an issue, even when some packed their bags and disappeared like thieves in the middle of the night. Minnis and Loretta, we expect more from you two. Them other reds, like your Chairman, we can't expect much.
asiseeit 10 years, 5 months ago
Tal, I as a regular Bahamian, do not give a rats ass who it is, if they are not paying their taxes, they are breaking the law. I would love for there to be FREEDOM OF INFORMATION so we could see exactly who is not paying their taxes, but sadly the Bahamian Political Class (PLP, FNM, Hangers On, and CRONIES) will never let that happen, they have to much to lose. What is at stake here is very serious, are we a nation of laws? Are those laws for all, or just the peasants? If the political class can break the law, why then does that law apply to me or you? It is about ETHIC"S, do we have any? The list goes on and on. We as a people are broke because of or leaders, the political class, so now finding out how they have been not paying THEIR FAIR SHARE, is just rubbing salt into the wound. If this continues, one day the people will rise up and i doubt if any of us want that!
TalRussell 10 years, 5 months ago
Comrade As I See It, your feelings so well expressed are shared by many but do you not find it much too damn political to be selecting Mrs.Pindling out from of a crowded field of so many as worthy offenders?
asiseeit 10 years, 5 months ago
Of course it is Political, politics is a dirty game, that is why I will NEVER trust ANY politrickan. Yes, there are many more who probably owe more than Lady P. They should be exposed as well. Sadly, it seems that the rotten, crooked, and dirty get away with far to much in this nation and this is why so many aspire to be rotten, crooked, and dirty. This is why EVERY BAHAMIAN who really loves this country should be DEMANDING a FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.
DillyTree 10 years, 5 months ago
It's as good a place as any to start digging in that crowded field of yours. And if we keep digging, I'm sure many more will show up -- unless of course, they all run to the treasury tomorrow with $100,000 in cash to pay off their outstanding taxes.
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 5 months ago
It's no crime to be in debt as life can deal a heavy blow to anyone. But the number of politicians who are in debt and owing millions to various banks and institutions is TROUBLING. These people are prime candidates for accepting bribes. This is why the financial disclosures are so important. You do not put a man who is in debt in charge of NIB. BOB, the Treasury or any post handling huge sums of money or contracts. In fact you simply don't appoint them. They are too susceptible to being corrupted.
asiseeit 10 years, 5 months ago
We are not talking about Debt. We are talking about just not paying what you owe, Lady P gets a very handsome check from you and I every month. There are many Bahamians that have dealt with the same issues and have sorted it out. People have sold at below market value just to unload property's they can not afford to maintain, it happens all the time.
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 5 months ago
Ok, "however" you got in the position of owing huge sums of money, the sheer number of indebted persons in the key positions in this country is extremely troubling.
Bahamianpride 10 years, 5 months ago
Absolutely agree ThisOurs, people with these financial issues should not hold these positions. The irony is these are the same people responsible for creating the inflated cost to live in the Bahamas.
Bahamianpride 10 years, 5 months ago
The Law is The Law, regardless of status, if you evade or neglect paying taxes or for politicians refuse to report income you are ineligible for office period. These position are positions of public TRUST, how can u trust cheaters, or those who defiantly reject the rule of law as it applies to them. We lock poor people up in fox hill for months for shoplifting a can of pork and beans yet people can rob the system of thousand or hundreds of thousands and nothing happens. They should all be ashamed of themselves, many of them sit around in church multiple times a week with clear minds knowing well that they are cheating the system, yet we wonder why there is so much crime. They created this inflated overpriced society where Bahamians are struggling to keep their heads above water, now it has come to bite them in the ass..
asiseeit 10 years, 5 months ago
Here is a thought. If the PLP and their supporters think that it is wrong and unfair that Lady P's nonpayment has been made public, lets level the playing field. What they should do is make public All persons and company's that owe RPT. We will expect to know the last time each has paid and the amount owed. Then The People will know exactly who is a criminal and who is not. Fair is fair! Think they have the stones to do it?
TalRussell 10 years, 5 months ago
The family that hired a "Dame of a Lady." Comrades while it's nice that some of you are at least attempting to debate this topic while keeping it respectful, we must not forget, we do have some bloggers visiting with us on these hereto Tribune pages who will see Mrs. Pindling becoming more suitable as the hired domestic help in some Bahamalander's or foreigner's residence? Good Lord Almighty, the woman is in her 80's ... can't you leave her to be, in Peace?
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 5 months ago
Can she retire and allow that money to be used to give a young person a job? She has her husband's pension.
Bahamianpride 10 years, 5 months ago
Read the thoughts right out of my mind, Lady Pindling is 81, give some other qualified individual an opportunity to lead, could careless what party they belonged too. Her taxes or personal finances would not be placed in the tabliods for us to disect if she stayed out of the spotlight. When is enough enough for people, @ 81 why even put yourself in a position to deal with any B.S. Go chill out some where and relaxed, join my mom she likes her days peaceful and quiet.. Perry and them need to quit trying to find ways to give this woman another pension.
sheeprunner12 10 years, 5 months ago
The Tribune will be the only thing that this corrupt, nepotistic and vindictive PLP government FEAR as it tries to rear its old evil Pingdom head again........... HOOOOORAAAYYYYYYYYYY
asiseeit 10 years, 5 months ago
The other daily does quite well and even has better news at times.
The_Oracle 10 years, 5 months ago
“Events change very rapidly in this, so let’s see what happens.” So, like Leslie Miller, She gonna rush right down and pay it off? Damn, must be the PLP's new internal clean up system! Brilliant !
"Secondly,” he said, “we have incentivised the payment of real property taxes to get more people to pay the tax. It doesn’t make sense to have people in our country who are not paying the tax and who, with a bit of incentives, would pay the tax given the added on value to the country.”
Ok, maybe not so brilliant. What the hell is he saying?
John 10 years, 5 months ago
He is saying that the country is broke and needs the (tax) money. So they are giving (tax) breaks to people who are willing to pay the tax if they get a "lil discount." They reduce the surcharge (whch for some people can be as much as the tax) but you will have to pay most or all of the tax at one time to get the discount..
bahamian242 10 years, 5 months ago
Is there any other debts that are Owed by Lady Pindling??
Publius 10 years, 5 months ago
LOL at whoever thinks the Prime Minister doesn't personally know how this leak happened!!!
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 5 months ago
Aaahh, This very scenario was posed to me this afternoon, I thought the possibility that he would "cause it to be" leaked (as he is fond of saying), because he himself didnt want her there hilarious. If true, LOL at "impeccably timed"
John 10 years, 5 months ago
This is the time the government should be on a nationwide "pay your tax campaign. Take advantage of the negative publicity and invite persons to go in and make arrangements to pay off their tax bill or to see what can be done to help those who cannot afford to pay. If enough people respond (politicians include), there may be no need for VAT.
Well_mudda_take_sic 10 years, 5 months ago
Christie and "Little Good" Brad are mentally disturbed in far too many very unhealthy ways. They now seem to be suggesting Mrs. Ping should not be held liable for her unpaid real property taxes (including penalties and interest accrued to date) because she is somehow (in their lame minds) suffering from financial hardship and entitled to much more than she has received from a country greatly indebted to her. Meanwhile Mrs. Ping lives in a lake side mansion on an 11 acre estate in an exclusive Cable Beach neighborhood collecting a pension and other benefits well in excess of $100,000 a year of the Peoples money from Public Treasury. The average Bahamian on the other hand is struggling like never before to try and make ends meet while enduring financial hardships Christie and "Little Good" Brad can only begin to imagine. THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY HAVE ALREADY GRACIOUSLY ENDOWED MRS. PING WITH MUCH MORE THAN THE COUNTRY CAN AFFORD AND THE VERY LEAST SHE SHOULD HAVE DONE AS AN EXPRESSION OF HER GRATITUDE TO THE BAHAMIAN PEOPLE IS PAY HER TAXES WHEN THEY BECAME DUE! INSTEAD SHE HAS SPIT IN THE EYE OF THE MANY TRULY POOR BAHAMIAN PEOPLE AND CAST SHAME ON OUR COUNTRY!! THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE CHRISTIE, NO MATTER HOW MUCH HOT AIR YOU AND "LITTLE GOOD" BRAD MAY SPEW TO TRY AND SPIN THE FACTS OF THIS HIGHLY EMBARRASSING MATTER FOR THE PEOPLE (NOT MRS. PING) GIVEN THE VERY PUBLIC PERSONA WE (THE PEOPLE) BESTOWED ON HER FOR HER ENJOYMENT.
asiseeit 10 years, 5 months ago
Very well said, this is a NATIONAL Embarrassment! It is TIME for Those that supposedly lead us to GROW UP! Stop being the SPOILED SNOT NOSED CHILDREN nobody wants to Babysit.
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