Somerset Bridge Recreation Club owe Government more than $82,000 in unpaid taxes, can reveal.

Fifteen months following Government?s purchase of White Hill Field from the Gosling family, the Ministry of Finance have taken out a writ against the Sandys parish club for unpaid land and payroll taxes.

Government bought the spacious property, comprised of some four acres, a detached residence and the Somerset Bridge Recreation Club clubhouse for $1 million in July, 2004, to bring its total holdings at White Hill Field to about six acres.

Attributing the club?s present dilemma to a lack of financial prudence on the part of previous administrations, newly elected Somerset Bridge vice-president Marc Bean told : ?This is reality and perhaps a reflection of many clubs. We inherited a ship made of wood leaking from all four sides.

?The club has been burdened with debt for over 20 years either as a result of successive maladministrations or a lack of constitutionality at the club. And as a result we haven?t practised prudent financial management . . . that would include owing finances to Government in some regards.

?Government now owns the property and we have been developing a relationship with them over the last couple of months. We also have a new administration that intends to work closely with Government to help develop our facilities and administration.

?This is just something which is going to require communication between us and the Ministry of Finance to be able to reach an amicable solution.?

One solution that could help ease the club?s financial burden, Bean suggested, was to place heavy emphasis on fund-raising programmes centred around sports, entertainment and youth development within the community.

?Somehow I think we need to put more emphasis on fund-raising because we do have one of the best physical facilities in the Island in terms of space and our field,? he said.

?In no way are we embarrassed because we are the first to admit that we are at the bottom but still looking to progress,? Bean added.

Queried over the possibility of being evicted from the premises, Bean replied: ?I?m sure there?s always a case the club can be taken away but wisdom would dictate the club within itself is an integral part of the White Hill community.

?If we are looking at a social agenda and development of the youth and community then it?s the workmen?s clubs that are at the forefront of it and I think Government as a whole has already indicated that they are willing to sit down and work as closely as possible with any club willing to take the responsibility of self-administration.

?This is the path we are on and I don?t have any fear of Government taking anything from us because to us Government is a part of the community and it would be against their own policy. And we now have a very competent administration that seeks to reduce debts and put more programmes in place to generate additional revenue. It?s just going to take us a bit of time to have discussions with Government in order to rectify the situation.?

Ministry of Finance secretary Donald Smith revealed yesterday that Somerset Bridge officials had not filed a tax return since 2001.

?The writ is for unpaid payroll tax in the amount of $82,000 for the period March,1995 to December 2004,? he disclosed. ?According to records maintained by the Office of the Tax Commissioner, Somerset Bridge Recreation Club has not filed a return since March, 2001, and has not made any payment against arrears.

?The writ action is consistent with Government?s debt collection policy of maximising tax payer compliance with respect to their tax obligations.?