Private sector lobbies for no new taxes
It represents hundreds of Belizean businesses across the country and tonight the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, like the rest of us, is anxiously awaiting to hear details of the budget that will be presented in the House of Representatives on Friday. While there is little doubt that tax increases will be proposed, the Chamber and other organisations representing business and labour are concerned that those hikes, likely on sales and business taxes, will fall disproportionately on their members. According to the Chamber’s president, Arturo Vasquez, while a meeting held on Monday evening between Government officials and representatives of civil society was constructive, it did little to quell fears.
Arturo Vasquez, President, Belize Chamber of Commerce
?The meeting yesterday really was to look at the options, the possibilities of how do we get over this hundred and ninety-eight million dollar deficit. The social partners including the union, the DBB, the Chamber of Commerce were all there. We were able to provide recommendations aside from sales and business tax, which we very loudly indicated to the Government that we prefer that they don?t look at those options right now. There were several other issues provided. At least ten different issues that they could look at different areas of taxation including PIC, including Casino and there were quite a number of others areas that I think are quite possible for Government to look at.?
?Unfortunately, the Government did not give us their side as really where they intend to get this from. So, not to say it wasn?t a productive meeting. It was indeed a productive meeting except that we gave our proposal, they didn?t give any. At the end of the meeting they decided they will go back to the drawing board with our proposals and look at it, but unfortunately they made it quite clear that they would not get back to us before Friday?s meeting. So at the end of the day, the disappointment at least for me and I am sure for the rest of the social partners was that we now have to listen to the radio like everybody else to see what these increases will be in.?
?I think we?re short of one meeting. I think there is one meeting that we could have had between yesterday and Friday, where they could come back to us. I think that would then had really made it quite clear to us that the Government, the Prime Minister and everybody is prepare to dialogue all the way to the end for us to then really look at the final result and decide whether we are in agreement or not with it. That is the only thing I would say that that is perhaps maybe the last meeting missing.?
On Wednesday morning the Prime Minister in his capacity as Minister of Finance will host a finance reform forum at the Biltmore Plaza beginning at 9:45 in the morning. Panelists include Senator Godwin Hulse, Financial Secretary Dr. Carla Barnett and businessman Arsenio Burgos.
