C.E.O. Shal Clears the Air on Trade Licensing Bill
Valentino Shal
The debate on the Trade Licensing Bill 2022 continues to rage on social media and in other quarters, despite the government’s effort to clarify what it means for small businessmen and women, entrepreneurs, and street side vendors. C.E.O. Valentino Shal of the Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour, and Local Government, told News Five that established businesses, including food trucks, are already in the system as peddlers and have been paying for a trade license. The bill does not change this and the status quo remains the same. As far as entertainment, promoters and organizers would have to pay a fee of two hundred dollars for concerts and live performances. C.E.O. Shal spoke of the nuance of the new tax regime.
Valentino Shal, C.E.O., Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour, and Local Government
“This trade license isn’t for the small vendors. The peddlers in the city who are already paying some sort of fee to the city council, for instance, that simply continues; there’s no change. No other peddlers outside of that are being contemplated for any type of fee; especially for rural areas, that is not the case.”
Duane Moody
“So they don’t have anything to worry about really?”
Valentino Shal
“No, no, no, no. No, they have nothing to worry about.”
Duane Moody
“So who does it affect?”
Valentino Shal
“Well this law is for established businesses. That was the whole point of the law – to provide clarity and predictability in how trade license fees are determined. That’s what the law is intended for. Peddlers, as you mentioned, are part of the system as it is now and will continue to be a part of the system. So it is not really bringing anything new in terms of taxes or fees. It is really just updating the current law that we have. It is mainly for established businesses; it is not targeting small businesses at all, or micro enterprises or people who are doing these things. This is not for them.”
Duane Moody
“So does it apply for food trucks?”
Valentino Shal
“It applies to people who move about with their trucks. But again, some of those persons are considered peddlers and are already paying into the system so it’s not really what I think some people are taking it out to be. But if there are some things in the law that needs a bit more clarity, we will make sure that that is done to ensure that people are not unduly being affected and of course, not worried about whether they are going to have to pay extra because that is not the intent or the purpose of the Bill. It’s only an established business of six hundred square foot and above who will now be paying trade licenses in rural areas; every other type of business is exempted. So that doesn’t affect them.”
