By Sue-Ann Wayow
VICTIMS of flooding should be exempted from the property tax.
This is the opinion of Member of Parliament for Oropouche West Davendranath Tancoo.
The MP on Monday called on Minister of Finance Colm Imbert to waive the implementation of the property tax on flood victims.
Imbert recently stated his intention to implement the property tax by the end of this year.
Tancoo in a media release stated that flood victims would have already suffered loss to their properties and penalising them further with the property tax will be unfair and difficult.
He said, “The constituency of Oropouche West, and other parts of the country, continues to suffer from rural neglect and geographic discrimination by the Government. Inadequate infrastructural works, the failure to establish proper comprehensive flood mitigation practices during the dry season and the continued absence of a feasible national drainage plan means that many homeowners are condemned by the government to be victims of flooding. The prediction of a severe rainy season this year only emphasises the exposure of these homeowners.”
Tancoo added, “In those circumstances, it is oppressive and unethical to impose on these flood victims any additional tax, especially one based on annual rental value of properties that will be damaged as a result of floods. Citizens should not suffer on account of government neglect and still be forced to pay taxes on properties subjected to flooding.”
The Meteorological Office issued another Adverse Weather Alert Yellow Level 1 which took effect from 3 pm on Sunday and was expected until 4 pm on Monday (today).
