HOWARD ‘Rickey’ Mackey
By NEIL HARTNELL
Tribune Business Editor
nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
THE Free National Movement’s North Eleuthera candidate yesterday took “full responsibility” for his failure to settle a 15-year-old debt worth $9,500 to the Department of Customs, and pledged to pay the full amount outstanding today.
Howard “Rickey” Mackey told Tribune Business he had “completely forgotten” about the settlement agreement he made with the Customs Department in mid-2013, relating to $12,789 in outstanding import duties owed by his company since June 2002.
Mr Mackey made one $3,197 payment to the Public Treasury, via RBC’s Harbour Island branch, in April 2013 but left around $9,500 due and owing until exposed by his political opponents this weekend.
Bradley Roberts, the Progressive Liberal Party’s chairman, told his party’s campaign rally at Hatchet Bay: “The FNM candidate for North Eleuthera, Howard ‘Rickey’ Mackey, to date owes the Bahamas government thousands of dollars in Customs duties which he committed in writing to pay, but has failed to do so.”
Mr Roberts subsequently publicly disclosed the contents of what appears to be the Customs Department’s entire file on Mr Mackey, including his April 18, 2013, letter seeking agreement on his payment plan. Also revealed are a cheque payment by Mr Mackey, plus numerous receipts, invoices, bills of lading and Customs entries.
Mr Mackey questioned how the documents ended up in Mr Roberts’ possession, describing the PLP chairman as “a political hack”.
Another issue, perhaps more pertinent for Bahamian taxpayers and the public, is why the Customs Department waited more than a decade to pursue outstanding taxes owed to it.
Confirming that he still owed $9,500 to Customs, Mr Mackey told Tribune Business of his settlement proposal and the debt: “I had completely forgotten about it.
“I’m not denying it,” he added. “I take full responsibility, and tomorrow [today] I will take care of my obligations to the Customs Department.”
For the full story, see Tribune Business.
Comments
realfreethinker 7 years, 7 months ago
I hope the data protection commisioner is investigating how this information gets into the hands of bradley roberts. The plp is taking our right to privacy to anothe level.They are a danger to any right thinking Bahamian. We had better wake up.
Clamshell 7 years, 7 months ago
I am no PLP fan, but no politician can claim a "right to privacy" in evading taxes, duties, etc., that are a decade old. It is a form of theft, and we have a right to know who the thieves are, no matter what party.
I have imported hundreds of thousands of $$ worth of goods and vehicles over the years, I was never once allowed to remove them from the dock until the duty and fees were paid, in cash. But I'm not a connected politician, either.
He "forgot"? Bullshlt. Did he ever forget to collect a payment owed him? I doubt it. Thief. Pure and simple. Thief.
realfreethinker 7 years, 7 months ago
The fact that he owed the government he must be made to pay for. My issue is that a politcal operative has a private file from customs and if you don't see the danger in that then you miis my point
The_Oracle 7 years, 7 months ago
This is what happens when the "who you know" and not what you know (the LAW of the Land!) rules the day. If the Bahamas could collect all the past due and "Round filed" Money owed to Government Departments and utility companies by the politically connected it would be a good start.
truetruebahamian 7 years, 7 months ago
I am going FNM and we do not need this calibre of person representing us. I will vote otherwise if he is on my slate of candidates.
TalRussell 7 years, 7 months ago
Comrades! If you take $9,500 at say 12% annual interest compounded yearly, the amount money you would owe after not making a payment for 15 years, would result in you owing Customs $51,998.88.
And, this does not include Late Payment & Collection service charges.
http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2017…
Naughtydread 7 years, 7 months ago
You forget about Lady Pindling owing that $300,000 huh? Work that one out for us you old sorry man.
TalRussell 7 years, 7 months ago
Comrade Naughtyread, the biggest takeaway lesson in the Rickey Customs matter, is not to use others as low hanging fruit to explain away why this $9500 Customs bill was allowed go unpaid for 15 years and without suffering additional fees, service and interest charges.
I was clear in my original post that I wasn't singling out Rickey for not pay Customs as his unpaid debt was by no means an isolated case of goods leaving the docks unpaid over at Customs.
Stapedius 7 years, 7 months ago
Another piece of $h!?. He didn't forget he never intended to pay. It's funny how everyone is concerned about privacy when it concerns them. The amount of scum spread in the media and social media is appalling and people suck it up. No complaints if someone else's loved one is sprawled out dead on the street or private sexual moments illegally posted on social media. All respect and decency goes out the window then. As far as I'm concerned if you present yourself for public office you are fair game. Be warned and clean ya dirt up before trying to represent people.
Stapedius 7 years, 7 months ago
Same goes for all these political S#!t heads FNM, PLP DNA and these fringe groups. Social media will be watching you since y'all seem to have no to respect for the Bahamian people. The official media leaning all over the place so it's time for people to take it to the streets and expose the nonsense that's been going on. Perry needs to go, Minnis need to go sit down. A band of dead people with lousy ideas.
sheeprunner12 7 years, 7 months ago
Every political candidate vying for an MP post in the upcoming 2017 election has skeletons in their closets ........... it is just that some have more than others
Why are we finding it strange that the PLP "hacks" have access to Bahamians' government and corporation records for such a time as this .......... ethically disgusting, but its a part of the contemporary Bahamian political culture
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 7 months ago
PLP, FNM, DNA.......same difference. Lady Ping was caught stealing by way of not paying her real property taxes for many years and what did Crooked Christie do....he appointed her Governor-General !
sheeprunner12 7 years, 7 months ago
Yep ............ that is the difference between the FNM and PLP
Seaman 7 years, 7 months ago
Mr Mackey has the makings of a bad man. If he chose to run for office ,he should have been smart enough to pay any outstanding bills. Stupid is what stupid does. That being said..... What's good for one is good for all. Air it all out. Tell us what all the PLPs, FNMs and all the others owe. Sit down everyone....... The sh!t about to hit the fan.
OMG 7 years, 7 months ago
Has anybody noticed the total bias by the laughingly called "the peoples station" in showing lengthy speeches by PLP speaker like Bradley Roberts but not by FNM. Dictatorship is alive and well.
sheeprunner12 7 years, 7 months ago
I agree .............. it is nauseating to watch ZNS news these days ........ the reporters do not even pretend to be politically unbiased .......... ZNS has become the television version of FOX in the USA ....... a pro-PLP propaganda machine ............. Whatever happened to URCA?????? ......... and ZNS as the self-proclaimed "people's station" as a public broadcasting station????? The next FNM government needs to clean house at ZNS and put new PBS legislation in place to prevent this abuse of ZNS television and AM1540
UserOne 7 years, 7 months ago
Bradley Roberts is running on about $9,500.00 owed by an FNM candidate yet Miller and his family owed hundreds of thousands of dollars in electricity bills and Lady Pindling never paid property tax. I don't know how he can fix his mouth to talk about this!
EasternGate 7 years, 7 months ago
I understand the Phillip Bethel owes customs close to a million dollars. Did he ever pay it? Since Roberts was in Eleuthera talking about politician's debt let the idiot that that!
TalRussell 7 years, 7 months ago
Comrades! Owing BEC for your light bill is a totally different matter than $9,500 owing for Customs charges and import duties and taxes. BEC is in the business of extending credit. Customs is a Cash N Then Come Pickup Ya Damn Goods business.
I thought when you brungs goods into the country you need to pay Customs duty and other charges on their arrival and before they're released to you?
Isn't the role of the Custom officers to make sure you go pay the cashier before they will authorize the loading of your imported stuff onto the truck?
I presume that Ricky's Custom's debt was no isolated case and you have wonder - why any goods would have been released off the docks - without presenting a paid in full cashier's receipt?
Comrades! The nuts and bolts this, is that "someone in authority at Customs" had to authorize the release of imported goods relating to an original $12,789 in outstanding import duties that were not paid by his company importing them - since June 2002?
I think "Big Bad" Brad, must tell the public all the stuff and names contained in the Customs file!
sheeprunner12 7 years, 7 months ago
Yep .......... I would think that at least 100,000 Bahamians would have similar Customs IOU accounts ........... All must be exposed so that the Treasury can get its damn money!!!!!!!!! ......... Brad needs to read out all of the Customs files
MonkeeDoo 7 years, 7 months ago
Brad probably owes most.
Socrates 7 years, 7 months ago
we need to stop being lackadaisical about these things.. someone e.g journalist, needs to put questions to Contoller of Customs regarding how the bill went unpaid, how this citizen's business got into Roberts hand, who authorized it or was it stolen, etc. people get the gov't they deserve and if we don't insist on personal freedoms, etc., we will slowly but surely end with elected dictatorship...
Alex_Charles 7 years, 7 months ago
lady Pindling and now this foolishness. I can understand a bit if you claim to have 'forgotten', but to pay it off as soon as word got out? You never had any intention to pay in addition to the fact that you had the means to pay! You are in a fortunate position to drop 10 Grand at a moments notice... When you run for office, pay your debts off so they don't bite you in the ass.
sheeprunner12 7 years, 7 months ago
Did Lady SLOP pay her bill??????.......... Did Potcake pay his $100K BPL bill?????.......... Did Perry's friend who was running VAT pay his bill???? ......... Did Audley Hanna (BAMSI) pay his bill?????? .......... so PLPs do not pay their bills to government ........ But this dirty scoundrel (Roberts) wants to drag this FNM candidate through the political mud for 10K .......... The FNMs need to go to Omar Archer for some information on crooked PLPs!!!!!!!!
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 7 months ago
Crooked Christie works behind the scenes to ensure the delinquent tax bills of all of his dead beat cronies like Ishmail Lightbourne, Lady Ping etc. are somehow paid by the government using our hard earned VAT and other tax dollars, or simply written off.
TalRussell 7 years, 7 months ago
Comrades! It''s who the party will run after the Red Shirts will be backed into da corner to takes down several already confirmed 2017 General Erection candidates - and on her own with a shove from the UBP's monies man's - Loretta will read the tea leaves, forcing her to pullout from contesting her Long Island House seat.
Watch to see all the signs how the UBP section of the party will writes the party's 2017 General Election Manifesto and campaign strategy - similar to the playbook 1967 General Election - most notably to be seen and heard in the doomsday theme of the Red Shirts campaign print, radio and television ads.
UserOne 7 years, 7 months ago
There is no UBP. Get over it.
Seaman 7 years, 7 months ago
Comrade Tal....... Mr Mackey is like most PLP candidate, so if he is to be removed, then will any PLPs be removed? As for the UBP sh!t you talking, that's over with. No young voter gives a sh!t about that. That is long over with. Only persons like you still have that hate in your heart. Don't worry about them pale people, they can never rule again...... only with money. And what if a pale man is smart enough to be PM, would you vote for that person? I didn't think so. The PLP will have to bring something better then the UBP sh!t to win. Because as it stands now the PLP is in trouble.
TalRussell 7 years, 7 months ago
Comrades! UBPism is likes the era of piracy in the Bahamaland, it never died out.
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