Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller yesterday suggested that he owes taxes to the government and said that politicians and people who hold public office should not be required to publicly disclose their tax status.
Miller, who is the executive chairman of the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC), said such a move would violate the right to privacy.
"All Bahamians, I don't care what level of life [they are at], owe taxes," Miller said in an interview outside the House of Assembly. "The situation with regard to real property tax has been around a long time.
"No one has the right to know what you or anyone else in this country pay or do not pay [in] taxes. That's between the relevant government agencies and the individual.
"I don't know how it becomes a topic. I guess some of them are in a better financial position than others, but it's irrelevant to what the government needs to collect funding to enable the government to run the business of the people in a proper and forthright manner.
"It's irrelevant; it makes no sense to me, so I don't get into foolishness."
When asked if he owes taxes, Miller said he is just like every other average Bahamian trying to make ends meet.
"I said all," he said. "Every Bahamian owes some form of [tax]. All. I don't care how rich the guy is.
"I'm a Bahamian man. I'm part of that. When I say all, I include me in everything I say.
"I don't distinguish myself from [any] Bahamian. I'm just like the regular Bahamian out there who [is] hustling trying to make a living and trying to pay your bills and take care [of] your family."
The debate over politicians' tax status came after The Nassau Guardian revealed that Ishmael Lightbourne, the government's value-added tax (VAT) messenger, has not paid real property taxes on his West Bay Street property in at least a decade.
Last week, Free National Movement (FNM) Chairman Darron Cash called on Lightbourne to resign or be fired in light of this revelation.
Following Cash's call, Minister of Labour and National Insurance Shane Gibson threatened to expose the current and former FNM politicians who he said have dodged their real property taxes over the years.
Yesterday, several sitting FNM MPs said they are unmoved by Gibson's threat and added that they are up to date on real property taxes.
Montagu MP Richard Lightbourne said he does not have delinquent real property taxes.
He said if Gibson wants to expose tax dodgers, he should focus on those within the governing party and also those in other parties.
Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant lives in Grand Bahama and is exempt from the tax.
St. Anne's MP Hubert Chipman and East Grand Bahama MP Peter Turnquest said as far as they are aware they are up to date on real property tax.
Turnquest said he has property in New Providence and Grand Bahama.
He said Gibson's pledge is a "threat to democracy".
"This is not about tit for tat," Turnquest said. "You do something wrong, so I'm going to expose what your person did wrong.
"This is about democracy. This is about rules of law and this is about obligations that citizens have to the state.
"I am delinquent on my disclosures and that is something that I am seeking to rectify at the moment."

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