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Don’t punish the honest taxpayer
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Posted on Nov 11 2004
Since the inception of our constitutional government in 1978, power generation for Tinian and Rota have been and still is being subsidized to the tune of more than $3 million per year.
I am not disputing the subsidy itself for it is central government’s obligation to lend a hand where steep costs of reshipping fuel is passed on to local consumers in the two senatorial districts.
But CUC needs to be upfront with taxpayers in the business center why the proposed increase other than the recent hike in fuel costs from suppliers. No matter how CUC spins the truth, the truth stands by and of itself. No amount of sleek syntax would change factual facts.
Too, several news articles have appeared in both papers about sponsors of foreign workers who have failed their employees. It boggles the mind how the department labor could issue renewals without verifying the following:
1. Sponsor/employer is in fact tax compliant and valid holder of a legal business license.
2. Tax withholdings are in fact filed according to requirements of the law.
To look the other way by silently using the friends and family syndrome in each case results in what’s known as financial leaks. It’s a scheme that punishes honest taxpayers. Take stock, there are too many of these cases and it doesn’t bode well for all the efforts being undertaken to rid the NMI of exploitation and extortion of the hard-earned pennies of foreign workers.
Both local and federal labor offices must descend on this case to protect the innocent from unscrupulous exploiters and extortionists.
John S. DelRosario, Jr.
As Gonno
