By Stephen Kangal
May 14, 2017
Since the current discussions began on the yet to be known illegal implementation date of Act No 18 of 2009 Prime Minister Rowley has never uttered anything sensible and correct on this issue. He has never read the two mutually inclusive Acts No 17 and 18. He is at loggerheads with the Minister of Finance and his AG.
Continue reading Rowley Erratic on Property Tax Provisions
By Raffique Shah
April 28, 2017
Trinidad and Tobago is one cantankerous country-we always quarrelling. In fact, we invariably have several quarrels raging at any point in time over issues or personalities such that we go off on tangents, forgetting who or what was in dispute in the first instance.
It is often said that you cannot please all the people all the time. With respect to Trinis, you cannot please anyone anytime. This characteristic is not to be confused with the proverb, “you can fool all the people some of the time…but you cannot fool all the people all the time”. In this latter regard, you can fool all Trinis all the time: just inform them via email that they have won the jackpot in a lotto they know nothing about, and you can relieve them of a “processing fee”.
Continue reading Arithmetic lessons for the Finance Minster
By Stephen Kangal
April 25, 2017
Taking into account that the former late PM Manning’s 2009 Cabinet had a clear unwavering philosophy and intention that both Acts No 17 and 18 relating to the Property Tax, hurriedly passed without due consultations and proclaimed by 31st December 2009 would be strictly and rigidly implemented at the beginning of 2010, their non-implementation and associated factors have indeed now rendered the tax regime invalid, null and void and in need of re-submission to Parliament for the requisite amendments to be effected to remove the time-lines rigidities.
Continue reading Grounds Invalidating The Current Property Tax Legislation
By Richardson Dhalai
January 11, 2016 – newsday.co.tt
THE succesfully lobbied to “Axe the Tax” now Congress of the People political leader Prakash Ramadar is warning that the proposed Property Tax of the current People’s National Movement administration can transform an inheritance to a “debt burden.” Ramadhar was speaking at the COP’s first post-national council press conference for 2016 at the party’s Operations Centre in Charlieville.
Continue reading Prakash warns: Property tax can be a ‘debt burden’
Newsday Editorial
August 25 2015 – newsday.co.tt
UNFORTUNATELY all of the barbs being exchanged in relation to the question of a proposed property tax have distracted us from the deeper question: what is the policy of both of the major parties on the imposition of taxes on property assets generally? The property tax was a proposal of the last PNM administration and it would have introduced a brand new regime of taxation which would be tied to the rental and taxable values of property.
Continue reading Clarify property tax
By Stephen Kangal
September 27, 2013
Current Status of Property Tax Legislation
At present there are no laws in our statute books empowering the state to demand and collect property taxes except Act No.17 of 2009 that amended the Valuation of Land Act and Act No.18 of 1969 (The Valuation of Land Act). Those other pre-2010 laws have been repealed by the passing and promulgation of Act 18 of 2009. The Laws repealed at the end of 2009 were:
Continue reading Briefing on the Property Tax
By Stephen Kangal
September 11, 2013
The heart and soul, indeed the single most important determining factor in the calculation of the quantum of property taxation for each property is the year in which the requisite rental value -driven valuation was completed and applied. Finance Minister Larry Howai alluded to the fact that by the time residential properties are brought to book again by 2017 the relevant requisite up-to-date valuations will have been completed.
Continue reading There’s is No Solace in the Land and Building Taxes Regime
By Stephen Kangal
February 27, 2012
Continue reading Alleyne Must Curb Fixation For Property Taxation
August 27, 2010 – trinidadexpress.com
It is now three months since the People’s Partnership won the general election and, understandably, the focus has been on how it is performing and whether it is capable of keeping its election promises. My take is still that it is too early to make any real assessment as the Government is still settling in; six months might be a more reasonable time. Meanwhile, I believe this is a good time to look back and assess why the last Government lost power. There might be lessons there that could prove useful to not only the current Government but anyone in politics.
Continue reading Where are they now?
By Derren Joseph
June 24, 2010
Today I continue from last week’s exploration of tourism as a key component in our diversification thrust. There are three points to be made – there is a nexus between tourism and culture, domestic tourism is critical and greater decentralization which empowers communities to develop and implement local development plans are necessary.
Continue reading Tourism, Culture and Decentralization