Property Owners Reminded to Pay Taxes

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, is calling on property owners to be diligent in paying their taxes, while commending those who have been meeting their obligations.

He was speaking at a National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) press conference last week Thursday (December 17) at the Ministry’s Hagley Park Road offices.

During the press conference, the Minister announced that some $69 million worth of improvement and upgrading works have been undertaken at the Riverton City disposal site.

Mr. Arscott said the work at the facility is an indication that the Government has been applying taxes efficiently and with transparency.

A 128-thousand gallon storage tank, along with collection and distribution pumps and hydrants, was established at the disposal site as a fire suppression system, in an effort to improve the NSWMA’s ability to mitigate fires at dump. The site has also been fully covered and a concrete access road is being constructed.

The Minister said there is “a significant amount” of bushing and drain cleaning work being done across the island through the collaborative efforts of agencies such as the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), the Ministry of Health, and the Parish Councils.

The NSWMA is the implementing agency of most of these projects.

“We have observed that the collaborative approach and the joined-up Government approach means we have been able to do much more with less funds. We hope, as we go forward, to intensify the collaboration between various agencies to ensure that the Jamaican taxpayers get bang for their bucks,” Mr. Arscott said.

Meanwhile, Minister Arscott informed that starting next year, the NSWMA will be advancing a vigorous enforcement programme against littering.

NSWMA Chairman, Dennis Chung, explained that the enforcement team will be focused on regularising commercial disposal.

He said the agency is also looking into increasing fines for offences, which include urination in public and illegal storage of garbage.