Dear Prime Minister,

Even though one may from time to time, offer reasonable ideas, they are seldom in any way acknowledged. Nevertheless, here are my ideas on Land / Property Tax as it ought to relate to our present financial struggles.

We have private properties that ought to be set out in Bands according to values and locations of such properties.
For example, there should be a:

Band A - Upper band
Band B - Upper Middle band
Band C - Middle band
Band D - Lower band

These bands represent a sliding scale of property values for taxation purposes based on the rising value of the property from year to year.
Band A would therefore represent the multi-million dollar property taxed on increased valuation of say 5% - 10% of the overall value with a variance of tax on properties in Band B, C, and D on a sliding scale down to say 1% - 2% as properties rise in value. Within this system can also be added a percentage for both water and sewage maintenance.

This system of taxation is used throughout UK, and as such I do not claim it to be my original idea.
However, my second idea is mine, and speaks to the man or woman who is just starting out to get a home. He or She buys an acre of land on a loan that they are still paying for. Is it reasonable to expect them to start paying land tax on that acre of land at say a $1000 per year when on an adjoining land, with a house on an acre of land is only paying $120 per year?

This is the kind of nonsense that exists and ought to be rectified and reversed. The higher tax should be on a band rated property as outlined above that is equitable. At some stage later on completion of their property, the new home owner will be band rated as well.
Surely, this turn around will bring increased revenue in a direct way to the coffers of the Inland Revenue.

Finally, In Hothersal Turning there is an auction site for selling on damaged and write-off vehicles, A VAT charge should be added on those sales so as to restrict purchase, for after purchase some of them are just dumped on residential land as at at the top of Brownes Gap, Hothersal Turning. To all this land has now become a car breakers yard which the Town and Country Planning Authority ought to do something to restrict such practices that causes damage to the environment.

To the rebuilding of Barbados
Thank you for you kind consideration of my proposed ideas in the hope the we put Industry before Pride.

Yours (As on Linkedin),

Wm. David Gittens M.A., LLB (Hons).