ST MARY, Jamaica — The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development and the Tax Administration of Jamaica launched a Property Tax Mobile Unit in Port Maria yesterday.

The mobile unit, which was started operation out of St Mary and Clarendon, is expected to be rolled out across the island.

Speaking at the launch held at the Hilo Parking lot in Port Maria yesterday, Minister of Local Government Desmond McKenzie reminded residents that the financing of important services, such as garbage collection, the cleaning of drains and gullies, the implementation of street light and the many other services carried out by the municipal corporations, is largely dependent on property taxes.

“The services cannot be offered free of cost… in order for the government (and) in order for the St Mary Municipal Corporation to deliver the services that the people deserve, the residents must play their part in ensuring that they pay their property taxes,”  McKenzie said.

He stated that if the government is able to collect the more than $10 billion outstanding in property taxes, it would be able to do more to improve infrastructure.

He said the Government will be vigorously enforcing the drive to collect outstanding taxes.  He encouraged people to utilise the mobile unit, which is expected to further improve the effectiveness of tax collection services offered.

The unit is expected to be at the Retreat Police station today from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, and at the Gayle Police Station from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

It will also be in the Border and Castleton area on Friday, and Highgate and Annotto Bay on Saturday.

Renae Dixon