Written by PHILLIP  RAMPERSAUD 
AS a taxpayer and a voter, I am very interested in the tax saga at City Hall, I therefore took the opportunity to speak to a former senior employee of the City Council on the claims of Mr. Ram that he wrote the Council on the issue of his rates and taxes. I was advised that:

1.  Mr. Christopher Ram was contracted between the years 1994 – 1995 to supply computer hardware, software and other accounting services to the City Council. Mr. Ram did supply the Council with computers, prepare financial statements, supply software and train staff.

2. On receipt of the Council’s yearly demand notice for rates and taxes Mr. Ram expressed his intention to pay his rates and taxes, but stated that the Council still had some outstanding sums owing to him on his contract with the Council. The records of the Council indicated that Mr. Ram was paid; however, he disputed same and wrote the Council. The contents of his letter were deliberated on by the Council and on the advice of the Mayor and the Finance Committee of the Council a decision was taken to exchange cheques.

3.  A Sub-Committee was set up comprising the then Finance Chairman, the late Robert Williams and other members of the Finance Committee and other officers of Council to further examine the matter to decide on the amount  really owed to Mr. Ram to facilitate the exchange of cheques. The work of this Committee was inconclusive. The exchange of cheques never took place, since there was no verification of the claims made by Mr. Ram.
This matter is a serious one because a personality such as Mr. Ram ought to pay his rates and taxes to the Council, especially since he is so quick to pass judgment on others. Mr. Ram, you ought to have paid your taxes even if the Council could not verify what you had owed them. As an accountant and lawyer, Mr. Ram should have known that after a period of time and there was no response by Council he should have proceeded to pay his taxes.
Please proceed immediately to settle with the Council. You paid Hugh Wooding (law school in Trinidad) promptly, you must pay the Council now and take them to court for what they owe you.