Dear Editor,

I have some questions for governments past and present. As a taxpayer, I am entitled to ask those who claim to represent us these questions because my taxes contribute to the salaries of civil servants. I hope my referring to them as civil servants angers them. That is my intention.

We hear that there is some $320 million on the road in unpaid traffic fines. What are you doing to collect this money?

We hear that one in every three vehicles on the road has some sort of illegality with regard to their documents. What are you doing about it and why aren’t those persons being fined or jailed, or both?

We hear that only 243,000 persons contribute under the PAYE system. Surely nine per cent of the population (2.7 million) can’t be the only taxpayers? What are you doing about it?

We hear that after those 243,000 persons are removed, taxes are only being paid by some 5,000 other (business) entities. Why? And what are you doing about it?

Finally, when are you going to “rope in” those who pay no taxes whatsoever? What sort of fines do you propose for them? Will they be sent to prison? Are any of you business owners and if so, do you pay your taxes?

Do you see all the dollar signs flashing next to the questions above? I wonder if resolving any of these issues could assist in balancing our budget? Or, is it a case that you are all too lazy to do any work, so rather than fix the system, it’s easier to simply tax us more and more, year after year.

It is written that Samson slew the Philistines with the jawbone of an ass. It appears to me that over time, during the tenure of various administrations, with all the different pronouncements and proposals, the Jamaican economy has suffered a similar fate.

In closing, let me make it abundantly clear that I no longer support either party. I am simply a frustrated Jamaican taxpayer who respects neither of the two any longer. They have, by their own actions and words, confirmed that they have no regard for the Jamaican people, especially the poor.

Richard Veira

richardveira@flowja.com