The
Minister of Lands and Regional Government, Musa Amul Nyassi, has warned all
those collecting monies from vendors to deliver the monies to the area council,
where it should be deposited so the council would be able to plough back the
money in areas of need to the taxpayers in the form of development projects and
programmes.
He
made the caution while delivering a statement during the handing over, of a
multimillion dalasi extension project of the Brikama Market, by Gamworks to
Brikama Area Council, on Monday.
He
also advised them to be God-fearing and deliver the money where it is supposed
to be delivered.
“We
will be accounting for this money that we collect from the people, if the
monies are not delivered to the right place,” he told tax collectors.
Vendors
have never defaulted in paying their taxes. They pay tax on a daily basis, and
are asking what is stopping the tax collectors from ensuring that the money
they collect from them reaches the council so they could be ploughed back to
the need of the taxpayers.
“I
caution you all to be very careful. We are not going to spare anybody if you
are found wanting,” the Lands and Regional Government Minister warned.
“We
all know The Gambia, as a country, is a tax-based economy as at now, and our
main sources of income as a government to be able to embark on these
infrastructural developments is through the tax that is paid by the taxpayers.
“Every
citizen of the country is entitled to pay tax, because it is through tax that
the government has embarked on all the development today we are all proud
of.”
He
said the management of the council is more of implementers, as these are done
as a result of the tax paid to the council by taxpayers.
He also commended the management of the
Brikama Area Council for their “wonderful job”, which would go a long way in
addressing the needs of the taxpayers.
He
said the maintenance of the structure is the sole responsibility of the users
of the structure, adding that the need to be innovative in the way they manage
the facilities.
The
Lands Minister also praised the Gambian leader for his visionary leadership and
for the peace and security The Gambia continues to enjoy, saying all the
developments are made possible due to his dynamic leadership.
“He
is the architect of the peace and security in The Gambia and, therefore,
Gambians owe him a lot,” he said.
