Tax officers show softer side

They are often criticized, sometimes unfairly, for just doing their jobs. But there is a gentler side to public officers and this evening, that humanitarian spirit was aptly demonstrated by the staff of the Income Tax Department who hosted over seventy children at their annual Christmas party. Tax Officer Annisa Perdomo says the joy on the faces of the children is reward enough for their efforts.

Annisa Perdomo, Tax Officer

“This is something that we have been doing. This is our fourth year and I think we really look forward to this every December. Especially most of our officers are involved in it. It’s not totally the Department doing it; it’s the staff from the Income Tax. We do get the support from the Department meaning the Head of Department. The staff has come out and we look forward for it every year.”

Patrick Jones

“How do you choose who attends the party?”

Annisa Perdomo

“Well like I said, it’s the staff–we go to them and ask them if they know any underprivileged children who lives in their area. But because of the area that we are in, Lake-I, we choose most of the children from that area.”

Patrick Jones

“What happens when they come to this party?”

Annisa Perdomo

“Well we try to give them a lot of treats. We give them a little goodie bag that has sweets and other stuffs in it. They get a gift and we give them different stuffs throughout the party. We also play games and we give them a plate of food; Christmas dinner with turkey and the whole works.”

Perdomo says other public officers who work out of the Government complex on Mahogany Street also chipped in to make the fourth annual children’s Christmas party a success. They would like to thank all those businesses who contributed, especially Provident Bank and Travellers.