Kingston, Jamaica — The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) said it is in support of the call for a property tax amnesty posited by Government Senator, and CEO of Grace Kennedy, Don Wehby.

The PSOJ in a release this morning said it is aware of the low tax compliance levels that have been a feature of property tax revenues, and also recognises the urgent need for these taxes to address issues such as waste collection, street lights, and maintenance of parks and markets.The organisation said that as a result of the low compliance levels (currently 60 per cent), these much needed services have been less than adequate and has caused substantial social and infrastructural challenges.These include inadequate funding for regular garbage collection and maintenance of the landfills; and currently over $5 billion owing to the Jamaica Public Service Company for streetlights, which results in adequate lighting in many communities.Like Wehby, the PSOJ said it think that a practical approach to resolving the compliance issue must involve an amnesty to allow those that owe past due property taxes to make arrangements for the outstanding payments without the fear of any interest or penalty being applied.This, the PSOJ believes, would be met with favourable response and assist in bringing up the compliance rate, which would make it more equitable for those who have been compliant with their property tax payments and have shared an unequal burden.The organisation further recommended that at the end of the amnesty period that the government must intensely pursue anyone who remains non-compliant and take whatever steps are necessary to collect the taxes owed, within the confines of the law.“This we feel is essential to ensure a fair and just property tax regime and also avoid any need for any onerous increases in taxes to meet the fiscal requirements”, PSOJ said.