Cabinet recommends meeting with business community

The Minister of Budget Planning Ralph Fonseca and the Minister of Industry and Commerce Jose Coye will be holding discussions with the business community to brief them on government’s proposals for the revision of the business tax. The date and venue for the meetings have yet to be announced but the decision was made at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting following a review of the Tax Reform Committee’s Report. Also on the agenda was a report on the three million dollar Interim Housing Program. Since September construction has begun on fifty houses with another twenty-five due to be built in the near future. The massive housing project due to begin later this year is also underway with site analyses now complete for several areas on the Boom-Hattieville corridor and along mile twenty-five on the Western Highway. Cabinet has also requested an analysis of the La Democracia area. Following a meeting last week with the National Garifuna Council, Prime Minister Said Musa will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the council which will recognize them as the representative of the Garinagu of Belize, provide that the government consult them on issues which affect the Garinagu and adopt a policy of non-discrimination and inclusion in national development. Under the Attorney General’s Ministry, Cabinet agreed to expedite service at the General Registry to allow birth, death and marriage certificates to be produced within one day of application. It was also recommended that the regulations regarding late registration of births be reviewed to eliminate delay and make the process easier for the public. And finally, The Ministry of Tourism will be launching a seven month anti-litter campaign beginning in February. The importance of a clean and sanitary environment and ways to eliminate littering will be highlighted. The campaign will include a trek to Victoria Peak under the theme, “Hike for a cleaner Belize” in March.