G.O.B. and Unions Agree on Need for Vigorous Tax Collection

John Briceño

The rapport between the unions and government has been generally contentious.  What began as consultations during the preparation of the 2021 budget has resulted in a salary cut that sees the wages of teachers and public officers being reduced by ten percent.  The P.S.U. has expressed discontent by serving a twenty-one day notice of intended industrial action.  B.N.T.U., on the other hand, is still polling its membership to determine a subsequent course of action.  Nonetheless, PM Briceño spoke of a mutual understanding between both parties that the collection of government revenues needs to be ramped up in order to make good on outstanding taxes.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“As government and the Joint Unions have agreed, this can be achieved first by sparing no effort to collect current taxes from all sources from whom such taxes are due, and simultaneously, by ensuring that legitimate, outstanding taxes are recovered immediately.  Whether current tariffs will suffice, without the need for incremental revenue measures will depend on those who pay and those who collect.  To those who evade the tax system, thereby imposing a disproportionate burden on the rest, I signal today, without hesitation, that the state’s enforcement agencies will hereafter adopt a muscular approach to revenue collection and enforcement.”