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SOME Caribbean territories, including Jamaica, are moving vigorously to pull cricketers who play the game on the regional and international stage into their tax net.
Like track and field athletes and footballers, cricketers have the potential to earn comfortable salaries, but historically, they have not been required to pay taxes on those earnings.
Former West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president, Pat Rousseau, said that the taxing of West Indies cricketers was not something that he was aware of during his time as head of the Board, which enjoyed its best financial position under the Jamaican lawyer's tenure.
"It was left up to the individual countries to decide. I don't think that there was any pressure on them to pay taxes, because for many years their income was not that good. It's only now that the income has got good," Rousseau said.
While he served as Jamaica's leader, in the first instance from 1972 to 1980, former Prime Minister Michael Manley, the self-professed best lover of cricket, officially exempted Jamaican cricketers who represented the West Indies from paying taxes. If was felt that the glory that they brought to the region warranted reward in the form of tax breaks.
West Indies international cricketers are among the highest paid of all workers in the Caribbean.
Earnings per annum can range from a low of US$100,000 to over US$1 million, depending on matches played, endorsements sealed and incentives gained from sponsorship.
Among the highest earners are veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul of Guyana, Jamaica's Chris Gayle, Trinidad & Tobago all-rounder Dwayne Bravo and his countryman Kieron Pollard, one of the world's most sought-after 20/20 cricketers.
