Leona questions Gibson over back tax deduction

August 28, 2016

PHILIPSBURG–The abrupt deduction of back taxes from civil servants has been queried by independent Member of Parliament (MP) Leona Marlin-Romeo via letter to Finance Minister Richard Gibson. She asked in the letter whether Gibson had notified civil servants of this action “as many complained that arrangements for repayment were already in place and no notifications were given” to them.

The deduction in bulk has caused financial hardship for civil servants in addition to placing them in a higher tax bracket, the MP said based on complaints she has received.
In her letter sent via Parliament Chairwoman Sarah Wescot-Williams on Thursday, Marlin-Romeo questioned whether this abrupt decision without notification was applicable across the board and included MPs, “in particular those with tax issues.”
How this was applied to the private sector and what was the agreed upon percentage were also questioned by the MP in her correspondence.
Gibson is expected to give an answer to the queries within seven days of receiving the letter via Parliament. “In light of the various complaints, the sluggish economy, and the halt on civil servants being given salary raises it is imperative that the Minister of Finance respond, as too often civil servants are not rewarded or valued for the amount of work they produce, but are expected to perform.”
Civil servants deserve “respect especially when an abrupt decision is taken that will affect their purchasing and spending power at the end of the month.”