By RICARDO WELLS
Tribune Staff Reporter
rwells@tribunemedia.net
DAYS after being exposed by Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Bradley Roberts for his failure to settle a 15-year tax debt of $9,500 to the Department of Customs, Free National Movement (FNM) North Eleuthera candidate Howard “Rickey” Mackey has followed through on promises to pay the debt yesterday.
In a statement, Mr Mackey said he has “paid in full” his outstanding tax bill, while apologising for allowing the situation to become a distraction in ongoing campaign efforts by his party.
Mr Mackey insisted that the situation has taken away from the issues that voters across the country want to be addressed, primarily the educational system, the economy and crime.
He also said that the PLP was using examples similar to his as a means to avoid engaging in discussions on matters of importance due to their “abysmal” record.
Yesterday’s statement read in full: “This morning, as promised over the weekend, I paid in full my outstanding customs tax bill. I’m sorry I allowed this to become a distraction in this campaign taking away from the issues we hear so many Bahamians want us focused on - such as how we will fix our educational system, get our economy moving again to create jobs and target the growing crime epidemic - just to name a few.”
The statement continued: “I know the PLP seeks to avoid engaging on these issues because of their abysmal record - and releasing my tax statement this weekend is the latest example, however, but the problems facing our communities and country today are too big for us to allow them to distract us from the things that truly matter to the Bahamian people.”
During a rally in Hatchet Bay, Eleuthera on Friday, Mr Roberts told those in attendance that Mr Mackey owed the government thousands of dollars in Department of Customs duties, which he committed in writing to pay, but had failed to do so.
Mr Roberts subsequently publicly disclosed the contents of what appeared 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 were a cheque payment by Mr Mackey, and numerous receipts, invoices, bills of loading and Department of Customs entries.
When contacted by Tribune Business for comment on the data leak on Sunday, Mr Mackey took “full responsibility” for issue and promised to have it resolved by yesterday.
Mr Mackey at the time said he had “completely forgotten” about the settlement agreement. He made an initial payment of $3,197 to the Public Treasury, via RBC’s Harbour Island branch, in April, 2013, but left around $9,500 due.
The FNM announced that Mr Mackey would run as its candidate in North Eleuthera earlier this month, replacing current member of Parliament Theo Neilly in that constituency.
Comments
ohdrap4 7 years, 7 months ago
well, many will commiserate with him, being bill duckers themselves.
a late politician once said, in the bahamas only the poor or the unfortunate pay taxes. He will only lose the vote of the unfortunate.
people now have even learned to game court orders to pay bills, they know they make an agreement, make one payment then stop. they know it takes at least a year for the matter to appear in court again.
Cobalt 7 years, 7 months ago
That's all fine and dandy..... but here's my question.......
Why doesn't Bradley Roberts talk about the millions of dollars Leslie Miller still owes BEC??????? Why stop at Howard Mackey????
Bradley Roberts is playing politricks again. No solutions whatsoever. Just finger pointing and smear campaigning. Typical Bahamian politician.
Sandra81 7 years, 7 months ago
It's amazing that no one is connecting Bradley's leaking to be credited to the NIA agency which was previously headed by the PLPS candidate for Central and South Eleuthera. This just proves that the NIA was established to be a political tool for occasions like elections where the PLP can obtain confidential information and release it to benefit them. Mr. Mackey should be judged in the same manner as our head of state who owned the treasury & whose bill was paid in full and the issue died. Then there was the Real Properate tax guy..Lightbourne. ..who owed. ..and let's not forget Leslie Miller. The PLP must be stupid if they think the people of Eleuthera will swallow this nonsense!!!!!! #PLPOUT 2017.
Socrates 7 years, 7 months ago
Mackey and before him Miller and who can forget Ishmail Lightbourne, all the folks gifted money from Bank of the Bahamas and oh, lets go back to Pindling and a house loan later gift from the GBPA.. our politicians and would-be politicians, have a history with these things.. bill paying is just something expected from us lesser people apparently...
happyfly 7 years, 7 months ago
I just prey Mackey gets in and rounds up theses PLP bast..ds and makes them pay everything they owe and return everything they have stolen
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 7 months ago
Howard "Rickey" Mackey is dishonest to say the least. Anyone who would consider voting for him needs to have their head examined. If no independent candidate will be running in North Eleuthera, the voters there would be better off spoiling their ballot or not voting at all
Economist 7 years, 7 months ago
Let us not forget Lady M and her Real Property Tax of $300,000.00 that somehow got paid very quickly. I would like to see the cancelled cheque for that.
ohdrap4 7 years, 7 months ago
I do not worry about NIA. I doubt the information was obtained that way.
More than likely an inside whistleblower familiar with the case made sure the information got around.
That is after all, the method for which people tell on the property tax as well.
themessenger 7 years, 7 months ago
All of that is besides the point, this is just the sort of politician we're trying to get rid of, we have a whole pack of tax ducking, tiefin set there now. If the FNM are to bring the change they talking about they need to disassociate themselves with people carrying that sort of baggage. Sorry Mr. Mackey you shot yourself in both feet by not comin clean.
TigerB 7 years, 7 months ago
My head is still spinning, maybe Bradley Roberts has apolitical garbage can himself, sounds alot like Jerome, heck they need to expose more MP's who owe, maybe they will pay
Mayaguana34 7 years, 7 months ago
Why is it ok for Bradley Roberts to have a file from Bahamas Customs? Certainly something wrong with this -
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