Edmond Campbell, Senior Staff Reporter

Legislation is coming to force delinquent homeowners to pay their property taxes.

This was announced by State Minister for Local Government and Community Development, Colin Fagan.

Addressing his colleagues at this morning’s meeting of the Standing Finance Committee of Parliament, Fagan said the administration was taking steps to significantly increase its drive to collect property taxes.

He said the country is now collecting only 45 per cent of the total amount due for property taxes.

Opposition spokesman on local government Desmond McKenzie argued that the Parish Councils did not have the requisite powers to take action against persons who refused to pay their property taxes.

He urged the Government to put measures in place to empower the local authorities, to collect the taxes which are critical to the work of the councils.

According to McKenzie, there has to be some mechanism to strengthen the local authorities to collect the taxes.

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