CitCo Deputy Mayor Clarifies Trade License for Apex

Oscar Arnold

There a resolution to a statement between the City and Government for the use of the new Civic Center as the Emergency Operating Center of City Hall in case a natural disaster heads our way. All that was settled amicably and City Hall gets to use the civic.  But there is another hurdle and it is over trade licenses which businesses have to pay to operate. Recent reports to the media were that Apex, the management company of the civic, was being heavily taxed. The Deputy Mayor clarifies that Apex is being evaluated for significantly less than the amount reported.

Oscar Arnold, Deputy Mayor, Belize City

“Initially I think the amount was in excess of five hundred thousand dollars; that wasn’t true. It was said that it was a tax; it is not a tax, it is a trade license fee. If you don’t want to engage in trade or you don’t want to open a business, you don’t pay a trade license fee…so it is optional. In that sense and it wasn’t a tax on the civic; the civic is still government owned as far as I know. the trade license fee is being charged to Apex who are the management company managing the facility. I know that our trade licensing board has met and they sent a letter as to the quantum of that. If Apex has received that letter as yet, I can’t confirm and because of that I don’t want to prejudice anything and say this is the amount there. I am aware of the amount—it is not five hundred thousand dollars—but because I haven’t received any confirmation that Apex has received their letter, I don’t want to comment on the quantum of that just yet.”

Reporter

“Is it significantly less?”

Oscar Arnold

“Hugely less.”