Premier Smith admits giving wrong information to public
Premier Smith said was at the time disclosing to the media that taxes outstanding to the Government coffers are in the millions and collecting these sums would improve the Administration’s ability to do more than it has been doing for the people of the territory.
The leader of Government business was speaking at a press conference on Wednesday February 10, 2016 at the Central Administration Complex.
Pressed by the media about the possibility of persons not being financially able to pay their outstanding taxes, Premier Smith said, “Yes. That is true.”
But he spoke of the possibility of paying the outstanding balances over an extended period and said that such persons must come in and have a discussion with the Commissioner of Inland Revenue, saying, “We are reasonable people.”
Premier Smith said that in the coming months there will be several things that the Government will be doing to aid tax collection as well as to encourage persons to meet their obligations to the Government.
Admitting to giving wrong information
Asked if he could give an estimated figure of the outstanding taxes, the Premier said, “I don’t want to give a figure that is wrong...see what happens when I give wrong information?”
However, he went on to confirm that, “It is a significant sum...in the millions, absolutely yes.”
During his budget speech on Monday February 8, 2016, Premier Smith said that efforts will be boosted in the area of streamlining tax collection and encouraging tax compliance.
Minister for Education and Culture Hon Myron V. Walwyn just days ago on a radio station contradicted Premier Smith's figures given in response to a question posed by Senior Opposition Member Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) in the HoA. The Minister insinuated that Premier Smith provided the wrong figures when answering the questions put to him by Hon Fahie.
Further, Hon Fahie in the past has accused Premier Smith of providing inaccurate answers to questions posed in the House of Assembly.
“It continues to be amazing how the Premier’s figures can be seemingly adjusted or more detailed after he leaves House of Assembly meetings, where he is answering under oath, and suppose to give complete, consistent and accurate answers,” Fahie had written in a statement in April 2015.
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14 Responses to “Premier Smith admits giving wrong information to public”
In my opinion, its really sad that he can't rely on receiving correct information from "some" of these folks!
he so use to l**ng it comes natural
Its s difficult thing to forgive but let's try our best. I trust that these mistakes by the present leaders would teach them to be more vigilant and give the correct information to the public