AG Tapped for Legal Opinion on B.T.L. Tax Woes
An audit on whether B.T.L. owes twenty-five million dollars in taxes to the government has been raised time and again. Last year, it came to light that the General Sales Tax Department was auditing B.T.L. along with the B.E.S.L. and B.T.L. Digicel Limited, two of B.T.L.’s subsidiaries. Today Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte confirmed that he has been tasked with rendering a legal opinion on whether government should proceed with pursuing a twenty-five million dollar in General Sale Tax from B.T.L. While he would not confirm the completion of the audit, the AG says Financial Secretary Joseph Waight has sought an opinion in respect of the monies owed by the telecommunications company. While B.T.L. is also seeking legal advice on the General Sales Tax issue, AG Peyrefitte says he understands both sides of the argument, why government should pursue the outstanding taxes, as well as B.T.L.’s position for not wanting to pay the debt.
Michael Peyrefitte
Michael Peyrefitte, Attorney General
“The Financial Secretary being the person ultimately responsible for all the tax agencies has asked me to look into the matter for me to give a legal opinion on whether or not I think GST has a right to recover the money or not. So that‘s all he has asked me to do. Him being the Financial Secretary and being the tax agent, naturally he wants to recover as much revenue as he can, but we have to look at it objectively and yes, I am to render an opinion as to whether or not B.T.L. should pay the money or not. We are in the process of analyzing that and I would have to sit down with several members of the AG‘s team and then we will make a determination which, in our opinion, should be the case.”
Reporter
“Is it your understanding then that the audit has in fact been completed?”
Michael Peyrefitte
“Well I don‘t want to comment on that yet, until given the full opinion.”
Reporter
“Okay, sir. So what‘s the timeline are you expecting to be able to render that opinion?”
Michael Peyrefitte
“I am trying to get it done before the end of next week, but it could be before. I am told that there will be a house meeting next week Friday and so I would like to complete it by today or by Monday. We get so much to do and we like to complete our work very quickly as possible because people are waiting on a decision. People are waiting on where to move and how to go. The GST would like to know whether or not they should pursue this money and it‘s my job ultimately to advise them whether or not I think that it would be fruitless or whether or not I think they should go for the money because it is due to the GST. So I have to determine that.”
Reporter
“But the understanding is that the other side is also seeking legal advice because they hold that they should not pay that twenty-five million dollars.”
Michael Peyrefitte
“Well I completely understand why B.T.L. would not want to pay and I can completely understand why the FinSec would want them to pay. So yes, they have sought their legal advice. It could come down to one of two things, I either agree with the advice of their counsel or I agree with the advice of the FinSec and the position of the FinSec but I have to give an objective analysis of that.”
