Sickle Cell Trust and the Tax Administration Jamaica

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The Sickle Cell Trust is a locally charity registered in August 1986 to improve the services and management of patients with sickle cell disease in Jamaica. From the beginning, it received excellent support from the private sector and individuals both here and abroad.

Among the projects were the purchase of a diagnostic ultrasound instrument, the building of a dedicated Sickle Cell Clinic and eight-bedded day care centre, and later an Education Centre for Sickle Cell Disease on the UWI campus at Mona. The Trust also provided outreach clinics attached to six hospitals in rural areas, free or subsidised support for surgical procedures, a social worker and micro-entrepreneurial support to render patients self-sustaining. The writer was chairman of the trust from its formation until it was transferred to a new board on January 1, 2018, and accounts were managed by a local accounting firm as a donation towards the services of the trust.

Some interval after transition to the new board, we became aware of a small unpaid item which, in normal times, would have been absorbed by the fundraising and other activities of the new board of the trust. A larger bill was then received from the Tax Administration Jamaica which was immediately discussed with the accountants, who recommended that it not be paid and that the trust should be eligible for a waiver. We heard nothing further and assumed that the matter has been resolved, until Monday, May 6, when a demand note for a much larger sum, sent to the current chairperson, was copied to myself.

This was immediately discussed with the accountants, who recommended that the sum not be paid while an appropriate waiver be sought.

Unfortunately, the clock is ticking, the sum increases daily, and although assured that the trust should be eligible for a waiver, this has not yet been granted. Legal advice stated that the chairperson resigning over six years previously should not be responsible, but I am concerned over the good name of the Sickle Cell Trust and its many supporters over the 31 years while chairperson. It is my intention to cover this sum from private sources, which will be subtracted from that destined for patient support in the future.

GRAHAM SERJEANT