The Police PRO Telling the Public to Pay Outstanding Taxes is Not His Role

indly allow me space in your widely read newspaper to make some comments on a matter of extreme importance. As carried on The Point Newspaper of June 12, 2012, the Police PRO, YerroMballow, said lawyers and doctors who were called by the police MUST settle their tax arrears.

According to Mballow, those who have been summoned by the police have not been charged with any offence but MUST pay their outstanding taxes.

I am positive that these remarks are not the role of the Police PRO. I am also positive of the fact that those details regarding payment of tax arrears must be put before a court of law and the perpetrators be brought to book if found guilty.

We all deserve justice and fair play in this country as per the evidence available. I am also positive that the evidence is not in the possession of the Police PRO and as such, he has no right to determine the “must payment of taxes.”

The Police PRO has the duty to inform the people of this country accordingly and not haphazardly and prejudicially. The Police is an institution entirely responsible for executing justice and fair play to the people of this country, regardless of whatever their standing in Gambian society.

In the interest of clarification, the Police PRO should not jump the gun on a matter of extraordinary importance, in which no decision has been taken in terms of litigation.

Infact, it is preposterous to be reporting to police daily without being charged with any offence. The police is not the court of law and right things must go to the right places.

Once again, I reiterate my respect for the police and its present cheif who, in his small way, is doing the best he can, given the circumstances under which he is operating. But more needs to be done.

To conclude, I hope the Police PRO will take cognizance of this fact and be guided accordingly.

Yours faithfully,

Femi Peters

Administrative Secretary (UDP)

Responsible for international relations