Who in government says he will lay back every last cent? Why was this arrears situation allowed to develop in the first place? This delinquency amongst the politically connected (PLP and FNM) is an absolute disgrace. This country has never grown up after 40 years of independence. When will Bahamians say "enough is enough" - we are tired of corruption and persons in authority taking advantage of their position? Until that time occurs, The Bahamas will continue to be an afflicted nation.

Thats why they play a blind eye to the Freedom of Information Act because it will expose too many of the government's dishonest and selfish dealings. They cannot push for the right thing, if none of them are doing right thing, thats why there is always a stall on obviously important decisions. That act right now will expose both FNM & PLP and many so called 'foreign' and 'lucrative' businesses as well as these scandalous financial institutions (BoB, coughh). It will allow the people to actually make 'good, decisive' decisions rather than buying and voting for some propaganda campaign that only tells us what we want to hear but doesnt show us any proof.

Maybe he was chosen with the purpose to dismantle the VAT. Notice that he was always at odds in the media with the financial secretary.

in the bahamas, only the poor or the unfortunate pay taxes. he was unfortunate.

but the Guardian quoted him as saying "I did not receive a bill for 3 years", a typical excuse of non-paying bahamians when they ishplain themselves at bec and batelco. (Sort of like saying, yeah i killed the fella, but i did not know murder was a crime)

Well, i supposed he stopped receiving bills when the plp regained power.

So big ol Brad coming to the defense...says Ishmael is not the only one...so effectively it is OK...and oh...he's a fine upstanding Christian man...so really, we shouldn't be holding him accountable for his taxes...this country is truly screwed in the head.

PM Christie and party Chairman "Big Bad" sticking together for the poor sweet Comrade Ishmal, is embarrassingly defenseless. A poor reflection on the PM and his party Chairman and their entire PLP party to defend this tax dodger. If these two men knew of his existing money problems in advance of his being appointed as the government's VAT coordinator (spokesman), then why in the hell was he ever given such a high profile appointment? PM do you not remember all that happened under your government from 2002 -2007, or is it simply that you don't care a hoot? PM you have yet again rolled to give your political opponents fresh ammunition to attack your leadership. And, even as a PM Christie supporter, I cant say I'd fault them.

Tal, not paying your taxes or import duties is not considered fraud or dodging,
It is a Bahamian obligation!
Hence why it wasn't apparently a problem for them.

A bank account has been setup at the bank of the bahamas to collect donations to pay mr. lightbourne arrears.

also there will a cookout at the plp headquarters.

the 30 million vat fund to assist the nouveau poor has not been established yet.

No one in this country should pay further real property tax until this situation is dealt with as it would be for any other person, namely revalue property according to current Appraisal, impose Surcharges and Interest going back not 12 years, as should be the law, but rather 20 as the Real Property Tax Department has been doing on advise from the Attorney General's Office for many years now. The new Assessment should be published in "The Tribune", along with the Recepit evidencing payment, failing which the property should be auctioned under the Department's power of sale and the proceeds used to pay the bill and the balance, if any, given to Mr. lLightbourne, who from all accounts could probably use the money to pay other bills, including forthcoming VAT on whatever financial service advise he offers. Bearing in mind there are currently NO Amensety periods in place, no one, including non-Bahamainas should pay real property tax until verifiable evidence of this matter having been dealt with to the satisfaction of the Bahamian people.

I'm all for NOT paying it...heck...mine's probably 5-10 times that amount a year!! Think I'll stop...do you think they will mind me not paying or read me the riot act and threaten me with legal action?

I just hope Mr. Cash pays his property tax bill. I also hope that those who are required and able to pay are also paying theirs; else there should be no complaints about Mr. Lightbourne from those persons.

real property tax. im sorry, i dont know anyone that pays theirs. but it is what it is. you pay the government for what you already own.. Priceless!!!

> real property tax. im sorry, i dont
> know anyone that pays theirs

And that is another bromide of bill duckers.
Once my neighbour was at the tax office arguing over her property tax bill.
Grasping for straws, she declared she did not have to pay the bill because I had not paid mine.
She then called me at work and put the civil servant on the phone.
I told him that, I first received a lump bill late from the treasury--the reason for the bill under the law was explained to me by a person whom I named-- but that i had paid it off and then kept current for several years. He checked and confirmed that I had no outstanding bill.
I took the opportunity to tell him: don't believe the witch, she never pays her hoa fees.

Anyhow, she owes water and sewage thousands of dollars, she said they took her to court and nothing happened. Mine is current.

From time to time Water and Sewage issues summonses and the bill duckers send the policeman to me. I just tell them i am not named in the summonses, that the HOA does not collect funds to HOA bills and that they are all dishonest bill duckers.

People have no shame. If you say someone does not pay their bills, they are not ashamed.
Buy, if you call them poor or stupid, big fight in bain town.

Stupidity at its best by the government. Another bungled policy initiative that has sparked considerable public outrage. I will say once more the PM should hand over the reigns sooner rather than later. Christie = liability, liability, liability.

What it did succeed in doing though is bringing the attention to the forefront on what taxes already exist out there that are NOT being collected...get what is owed collected FIRST before any new taxes are imposed!!

Can you imagine if they rat out a small fry political hanger-on like Ishmael Lightbourne??
What about the PM, GG, Cabinet, FNM leaders, former politicians/diplomats, church leaders etc who owe taxes to the government?????????????

Expose all a dem who tellin the average JOE to pay and een paying ... leaders set example