Rasbert Turner, Portmore Star Writer

Mayor of Portmore Keith Hinds is echoing the cry of his predecessor George Lee, about the low payment of property taxes in the municipality.

Addressing the annual general meeting of the Portmore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday, the mayor said with 29 per cent of property owners paying taxes, the basic needs of Portmore cannot be met. He said this needs to addressed very early if people are expecting to benefit from the local authorities.

"There are some communities not paying taxes as they ought to, but have nine green spaces and cannot care for one. But, soon, the municipality will be taking over some of these spaces to build community centres and will put others up for sale," the mayor said.

He said with Portmore being seen as a very highly educated community, persons ought to know better.

He added that he has received commitments from central government that the former Dehring, Bunting and Golding building would be used as the new Portmore Tax Office, which is expected to be opened by the end of August.

He told the gathering that residents will have no excuse to not pay their taxes as there will be great convenience with the opening of this office.

The views of the mayor were echoed by Robert Montague, minister of state for local government in the Office of the Prime Minister, who was the guest speaker. He said the local government reform, when completed in 14 months, will empower the municipality to take persons who owe taxes to court. The court will have the authority to allow the municipality to sell their properties at market value. He said the money would go directly to the local authority's account.