The Editor, Sir:

I am writing this letter on behalf of my deceased father who passed away in 2005. He had been a school teacher (headmaster) for over 40 years, during which time he never escaped the payment of PAYE taxes. Having had a home built for this retirement, he continued to pay his property taxes up until the time of his demise and they continued to be paid up to the present. In addition, taxes were also levied against his paltry monthly pension.

Some time ago, while still alive in his early nineties, there was some discussion on increasing property taxes but, to this day, I'm not sure of the finality of this. A letter was written in his behalf to the Ministry of Finance (as was advised) asking for some relief with respect to his advancing age. The outcome of this was still not clear, as there was still uncertainty that a reply was received.

Needless to say, the taxes continued to be paid up to present about a week ago, a bill for property taxes purportedly due since 2001 to the present was delivered at his house and the amount said to be due amounted to over 10 times what he had been allowed to pay. This seems grossly unfair and most exorbitant, compared to what he was originally levied. Moreover, the house is, at present, in probate and eventually his property will be charged a 15 per cent in taxes of its total value, which will amount to a considerable sum going back to the Government - never mind all the taxes he had paid over his lifetime.

At a time when so much of taxpayers money has been and will continue to be pilfered (check the light bulb debacle), those in charge of this country have not only demonstrated gross ineptitude in its governance, but a total lack of compassion and caring for the people whom they served.

I am, etc.,

GRACE J. PEART

P.O. Box 821

Montego Bay