Payments “under-recorded”: taxpayers victims again

Philip Willoughby

As we said, the exact amount of missing monies is not yet known and already there are many questions on what happens in instances where persons have paid taxes to City Hall.  Either the record of payment  is missing or the exact payment was “under-recorded” in the record books . Willoughby says the council will need legal advice to determine the next course of action.

Phillip Willoughby, Councillor

“As we understand from the persons involved, it would be that yes you would be given a receipt that is probable. We can’t assert that unless we investigate or audit the receipt process. What we would then have to do maybe for a period request that trade license holders, liquor license holders, property tax owners, all those who paid whatever invoice for whatever particular expense, they would have to come in and show us this or we would have to do an on sight visit to ask or request to show proof of your receipt and then reconcile back to see what is it in fact we have here in our systems.”

Jules Vasquez, Channel 7

“As a taxpayer what I have is a valid receipt for the full amount, however, the system does not have that money.”

Phillip Willoughby, Councillor

“Before a court of law the receipt I presume should hold up.”

Last October, in another scandal involving finances at City Hall, criminal charges were levied against Mayor Zenaida Moya Flowers, Administrative Assistant, Kiran Bhudrani and the City Administrator Dr. Kiran Vanjani, who blew the whistle on this recent case. The other person, former Financial Director, Dwain Davis, has since passed away. That case is still pending.