Dear Editor,

I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard a voice clip of House committee member Gregory Mair urging the Government to raise the effective rate of property taxes by using reassessed property values. On a number of different levels, this has to be one of the most nonsensical statements to ever come from an Opposition member. Talk about an unforced error. Even Minister Phillips sounded amused in his response.

Doesn’t Mair know that most of us who were slammed with a hefty increase last year have yet to recover? Why, then, would he be harbouring hopes of a second increase being collectable?

More to the point: Why wouldn’t he be pressing the Government to make a serious project out of widening the tax net — something that has never been seriously attempted before? Isn’t that the obvious direction to take if more tax revenue is needed? Or does Mair simply like to hear the sound of his own voice?

The leader of the Opposition must immediately state whether this is the official policy of his party. If Mair is espousing Opposition policy, then fixed-income earners, pensioners, people with interests in the real estate industry and other voters will be guided accordingly. If he isn’t, then Holness ought to be thinking about a replacement to sit on that House committee.

In the meantime, I urge Minister Phillips to dismiss Gregory Mair’s recommendation for the nonsense that it is. There is plenty of ground to cover on the IMF programme. However, a greater sense of urgency must attend efforts to widen the tax net. Everyone should pay their fair share of taxes. Not more, not less.

E Levy

Kingston 6