Orange Walk resident says he wants equitable taxation

Orlando “Landy” Burns

Earlier when we spoke to businessman Landy Burns, he was aggrieved that a plot of land that was being developed for sporting activities has now ended up in the hands of Adin Aragon. Burns is peeved about one more issue and that’s taxes. Last year, Burns told the media that he was being threatened by the Town Council because he had not paid up on trade license fees. We revisited that issue with him today and he said that he wants equitable taxation.

Orlando “Landy” Burns, Businessman

“We have to stop put politics ina everything. As you know we have a P.U.P. town board here and everybody know that I supported U.D.P., I ran for U.D.P.; I am a U.D.P. I never said I am not a U.D.P., but we have to stop making all our decisions based on red and blue. We are one people, one community; we have to start learning when to get together and work together for the betterment of the town. But when we have leaders that continue to victimize people because of their color, we noh wah get nowhere. And I bring this up because the other day they had me on the news that I didn’t want to pay my trade license. I was waiting for an explanation why they almost doubled my trade license. I know that there are laws; every single city council and town council needs money—there is never enough money to improve the town. But there are ways to do it. If you are going to raise, give me an explanation why and how much and people understand. I always pay my taxes.”

Duane Moody

“I know they had threatened to even close you down because you didn’t pay it or you had refused to pay.”

Orlando “Landy” Burns

“I had paid a portion and I was waiting for an explanation. I told the guy; di you raise everybody in the neighborhood, what is the percentage; what’s the reason, are you gonna pay the streets? And I know that there are laws about these things. If we challenge these laws, I know we can be victorious in court. But you know what, if the people don’t care, I’ll just pay my license and go about my business. But I’ll show you…people still come to me since I’m still involved and I am kinda outspoken.  A man came to me…I’ll call him Mister Moreno. He has a little lot not far from here. He lives down an alley off the highway, behind three lots; it don’t even have a street. And he is telling me that people on the highway are paying a hundred and twenty-five for their lots, but yet he is being charged three hundred and ninety-six dollars. And this man is a U.D.P. and he had his flag…”

Duane Moody

“That’s property tax?”

Orlando “Landy” Burns

“He’s being charged three hundred and ninety-six dollars per year and is a poor man, small house and they read all the laws weh dehn wah ker ahn dah court. And they di say that the man owe three thousand four hundred dollars. So I am saying let’s be fair. Let’s stop this thing weh yo threaten people with dehn taxes everybody ‘friad fi jump because dehn fraid fi dehn leaders. And when wah country become afraid of their leaders, man we di invite trouble.”