THE EDITOR, Sir:

Of course, foreign workers should pay income tax in Jamaica. The Jamaican Government should take note of what happened [in Uganda!] and is currently happening in Africa - foreign workers earn vast amount of money but do not spend this wealth in their host countries. They send it back to their homelands.

If the Government allows foreigners to be exempt from tax, not only will Jamaica find itself bankrupt but there will be strong resentment from hard-working Jamaicans who pay their taxes. This could lead to riots (note the situation in Greece).

I give this simple scenario to the Jamaican Government: What would stop me as a 'foreigner' from setting up a business, bringing in my foreign workers/family to take up key positions in that business. The only employment I offer to the Jamaican people would be for one house helper, one 'yard boy' and one security guard and paying them the minimum weekly wages. How much will I be contributing to the Jamaican economy? Absolutely nothing.

Jamaica has enough corruption to deal with currently. Surely, it does not want to pile on more by opening the country to tax dodgers/foreign gangsters and unscrupulous business operators.

JULIET BRYAN

JulietBryan@aol.com