WESTERN BUREAU:
OPR COMPANY Ltd., which is partly owned by Montego Bay businesswoman, Pauline Erskine, was on Thursday summoned before the Tax Court to answer to 38 charges of failure to file returns totalling over $24 million.
The charges mentioned in court ranged from failure to file returns for PAYE, Education, General Consumption, and Company taxes. Some of the charges date as far back as 1993.
"Thirty-eight indictments against one company is cause for concern but the company is in the process of being wound up so everything may be sorted out soon," said Lincoln Wedderburn, senior compliance officer at the Inland Revenue Department. Among the owners of the company, who along with Mrs. Erskine operated La Mirage Hotel in Montego Bay, is Osmond Erskine who ran for the People's National Party (PNP) in the Local Government elections last year.
George Thomas, attorney-at-law representing OPR, told The Gleaner that he was not in a position to give details about the company's arrears as he had only recently received the case and had not been brought up to date on the details surrounding the issue.
Among the other companies brought before the court were Ward Cesspool and Construction Ltd., Cornwall Asphalt and Paving Ltd., Montego Cleaners and Central Rent-A-Car.
Mr. Wedderburn said the sums outstanding are large amounts and advised the operators to contact the Tax Office.
