U.D.P. CitCo Didn’t Pay Taxes, Social Security

Bernard Wagner

On Thursday, Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner held a press conference at City Hall to share with the media findings from a transition report that was commissioned upon the new administration taking office back in March.  What was discovered was extravagant spending, as well as massive arrears racked up by the previous city council.  Of particular note is that the council was delinquent in keeping up with income tax, general sales tax and social security payments.

Bernard Wagner, Belize City Mayor

“We want to point out here that this city council has not paid in the employee income tax deductions to G.O.B. since August 2017, totaling almost a hundred and seventy-three thousand dollars.  Social Security, forty thousand still owed and not paid in, deducted from the employees but not paid in.  Is this the way we run business?  Now I understand the good relationship our good DPM, deputy prime minister was also speaking about when he spoke prior to the election, that it‘s always good to have good relationships.  Now we are finding it out.  We also note that the council has been accumulating large GST liabilities by not paying the GST tax which is on the invoice for [Belize] Waste Control, two point four million.  Belize Maintenance Limited, two point seven million.  And you can check the auditor’s report, it‘s right there.  See the note and read the note, and comprehend the note.  Weak fiscal and financial management has contributed to the erosion of the capital base of this council.  And you know what, that alone will impact the council or any future council‘s capacity to meet residents expectations.”