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Why Must We Pay Local Tax?

Why Must We Pay Local Tax?

In as much as the citizenry of this country deserve to be treated fairly in terms of the country’s development and access to well paid jobs, we must also not forget the fact that paying our local tax is a civil responsibility that is obliged upon every citizen. Development in itself does not take place in a vacuum. The collective contribution of every Sierra Leonean would overhaul national development for all.

I think it is high time we stopped casting aspersions and unnecessary blame on the City Council and Government about the ‘snail pace’ of our own development. In the meantime, how many Sierra Leoneans have questioned themselves with regards their contribution towards national development? Every time we blame those in authority for not doing this and that; do we even ask what we may have done towards our own very development? The obvious answer for the majority of the citizenry is apparently negative.

The few people I put this question forward to make me realize that no one actually dares to give a straight answer, they would instead prefer meandering ending up asserting the negative.

That made me to ponder further and simultaneously do some soul searching over the abysmal state of Sierra Leone, but I was left with no answer only bafflement fitted my imagination. I relentlessly questioned again,  who is to make Sierra Leone, if not us Sierra Leoneans? Even God in heaven will not come on earth to salvage the already deplorable conditions of Sierra Leone except we do it ourselves, or show a reasonable level of commitment. Apparently, I have come to the conclusion that we as a nation are too lethargic and complacent about our own development; always wanting to hold people responsible for our retrogression.

If my memory could serve me right this is the second time local tax has been collected by the numerous Local Councils around the country courtesy of the provision of the Local Government Act of 2004. Owing the non-compliance of the citizenry  in the payment of local taxes, I always ask myself, how can we boast of change under such cheating by us the citizens? No way, change is yet to come if we continue to eschew paying our local taxes at the end of every year.

Countries like USA and the UK have managed to sustain their economy and solve other basic social problems by making judicious use of tax payers’ money; as I mentioned earlier countries like the USA and UK have endeavored to surmount some of their economic miseries and making sure that democracy is seen and not heard.  How do we think the Local Councils operate? How do we make sure that workers who clean the city are paid and other social amenities are paid if not with tax payer’s money?

Before, I conclude this piece I might want to reiterate that development does not take place in an emptiness, but with the collective input of every Sierra Leonean. we shall achieve it, and by merely voting in Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma and the Mayor of Freetown Herbert George Williams cannot effect changes in our beloved land. Therefore we must all work hand in glove to ensure that the change we all yearn for is here and here to stay.

But a word of caution for the authorities is that they use the tax payer money in a judicious and accountable manner; which will invariably serve as motivation for the citizenry to happy with paying their taxes knowing that the value for their money is accorded them.

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