Rasbert Turner, Portmore Star Writer

With a $57 million shortfall, a call for higher land tax compliance in Portmore has been echoed by a member of the Government.

Local Government Minister Noel Arscott made the call at a meeting at the José Marti High School in St Catherine on Wednesday.

It was revealed that there was only a 55 per cent compliance in the municipality.

He told the gathering that the property owners need to pay their taxes to help with the development of their community.

The call for tax compliance has been the cry of Portmore Mayor George Lee and his predecessor Keith Hinds.

"While there have been a marginal improvement in compliance, more needs to be done so as to properly serve the residents," Mayor Lee told the gathering.

Lee said as a result, a special revenue unit will be set up to collect more tax money in the municipality. "If we are to provide light, clean drains and other amenities, then the taxes must be paid," Lee told THE PORTMORE STAR.

Incidentally, Portmore has the only tax office that opens Mondays to Saturdays.