THE EDITOR, Sir:
I AM writing to you to complain about the language of 'doublespeak' which leads itself to complete confusion in the minds of untitled people like myself regarding the imposition and mailing out of tax assessments to be paid: Certainly, if this was the intention of the Minister of Local Government to confuse or befuddle us. Let me assure him that he has succeeded. I spoke with my 74-year-old friend who resides in the Zion Hill district of St. Mary, and had his assessment brought to me for clarification. I asked him the following questions.
Q. What band do you fall into? He replied, the only band he knows about, it is the one out at the "Poco Church." I further pressed him, to find out if he did not hear the Minister's speech in Parliament. He said the other "band" he knows is the "band" of mercy when he was a small boy growing up, to protect animals.
I find the level of confusion in the parish of St. Mary immeasurable. To compound the whole issue, the headlines of another paper, shouted "Ignore tax charges, Bertram advises property owners" (The Observer 18th July). Is the Minister saying that we the taxpayers of this hand, should ignore this assessment?
Mr. Editor, are we to understand that an order from Government, emanating from a Department of Government, must be treated like the "British" Army, where the last orders are the one that must be adhered to? If so, what about Jean Doe, who resides in Stapleton Gully, at 88 years of age and has not seen a newspaper for 20 years to establish what "band" she falls within.
I must point out that this matter of land taxes concerns relatives of mine who have not completely severed ties with the U.K. and have been away for the past three months, and have not been able to see or hear what the Minister of Local Government said in Parliament. None of the people mentioned herein, know about what bands, consultative committees for the parish, and any other process of appeal, in the absence of clear Government policies.
I am, etc.,
LLOYD A.S. HENRY
Highgate P.O. Box 104
