PPP to table legislation to get MPs to make their tax returns public

All Members of Parliament are currently required to file annual income tax returns to the Guyana Revenue Authority in compliance with the Income Tax Act, Cap 81:01 but the opposition, PPP now wants this information to also be made public.

PPP to table legislation to get MPs to make their tax returns public

All Members of Parliament (MPs) could soon be forced to make their tax returns public if the People’s Progressive Party gets its way.

The PPP is expected to put a motion before the the National Assembly to get all MPs to make thown their tax returns for the past decade.

The motion will be presented by former Junior Finance Minister Juan Edghill.

All Members of Parliament are currently required to file annual income tax returns to the Guyana Revenue Authority in compliance with the Income Tax Act, Cap 81:01 but the opposition, PPP now wants this information to also be made public.

The PPP was removed from office in May 2015 after 23 years in government.

According to the Order Paper, the opposition believes that the motion is the interest of transparency and accountability in public office and seeks to have MPs make available to the public their tax returns to the Guyana Revenue Authority for the last 10 years up until December 31, 2015.

Edghill also wants the National Assembly to urge the government to expeditiously table legislation to give effect to this motion.

The opposition party will also move a second motion seeking compensation for victims of elections day violence. The 2015 general elections recorded considerably less violence at polling places than previous general elections.

The PPP is making a case that the victims were, among other things, psychologically abused, physically assaulted, robbed and their properties damaged and destroyed.

The PPP says in one instance, the victims in Georgetown required expensive emergency surgery and vehicles on another scene were damaged in Sophia by a riotous crowd. This motion is to be presented by MP Joseph Hamilton who was directly linked to the Sophia incident.

Representation was made to the Government by the affected Sophia victims several months ago which ended in failure in obtaining relief for these victims. To this end the PPP wants the Government to compensate all the victims of Election Day violence who suffered psychologically, physically and materially due to violence on May 11, 2015.

You must be logged in to post a comment Login