No one should be exempt from paying taxes – Jordan

Mar 17, 2016 News

There will always be exceptions to almost every rule in life. And sometimes, this very fact can be a hard pill for shrewd economists to swallow.
A glaring example of this was demonstrated yesterday when Finance Minister, Winston Jordan was questioned on the topic of income tax. During a meeting with the members of the press, he was asked for his view on the fact that the salaries of officials such as the Chancellor are not taxed.
Jordan acknowledged that the Constitution does provide for the salaries of the President, the Chancellor, the Chief Justice, the Auditor General and the Attorney General to be tax free.
But being the economist he is, Jordan revealed that his belief is that no one should be exempt from paying taxes.
The Finance Minister said that while he has no intention to cut anyone’s emoluments, his vision is that the income of all should be topped and all citizens pay their taxes.
“I don’t believe that it is a fair position for some to pay and others not to pay when we all benefit from the same provision of social and other government services. But that is my personal view,” expressed the practiced economist.
He made it clear that it is not a view that has been considered by Cabinet.
(Kiana Wilburg)