GENERAL MANAGER OF BELIZE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DICUSSES GST
Jun 29, 2006
General Manager, Kevin Herrera, says the Chamber's involvement with looking
at the National tax review began from last year through the Tax Reform
Committee, which was a National Committee.
Kevin Herrera: General Manager Belize Chamber of Commerece
"Within that process the Chamber as a main player within the Belizean
economy contacted its members and said what we would like to see. And the
answer was over whelming saying we would like to see a VAT like mechanism
to replace the sales tax there are many issues with the sales tax so that
was the type of nucleus if you will of this tax when you look at where we
are today. That committee continued to work last year then the bill was
sent to the house sometime after that."
Nuri Mohammed: Love Fm Morning Show Host
"So you were supportive all during the early process?"
Kevin Herrera: General Manager Belize Chamber of Commerece
"The principle and we are all still very supportive of the principle."
Nuri Mohammed: Love Fm Morning Show Host
"What principle is that?"
Kevin Herrera: General Manager Belize Chamber of Commerece
"The self policing mechanism the refund mechanism of the tax that type of
thing, late last year the bill was presented the Chamber again made
presentations to the House but that presentation also identified some
specific areas with which we believe that should be addressed. Some of
those areas had to do with the aspect of the tax which will affect the
productive sector and the services sector other areas. There is this same
stock on hand issue that we are dealing with right now we brought that to
their attention on the nineteenth of December in a House Committee meeting
is called the Finance and Economic Development Committee on December
nineteenth."
Herrera also took issue with the House Committees and, as he put it, the
work that they should do and the work they are not doing.
Kevin Herrera: General Manager Belize Chamber of Commerece
"Because for the system to work all these mechanisms that are in place have
to do their job, when you go and present to these committees you are
assuming that these individuals have read these bills. I don't believe they
do and if they do then you wonder how they can carry what I am saying to
the Cabinet and the Executives. I have some concerns about that and I am
hoping that those issues could be resolved but my impression and I have
been to many of these committee meetings these people are not reading their
bills they are not taking their job seriously."
Nuri Mohammed: Love Fm Morning Show Host
"You are saying the representatives?"
Kevin Herrera: General Manager Belize Chamber of Commerece
"Yeah I believe they know what they want to do but still I think anybody
who can put up a serious convincing argument, saying you know what we like
your tax but perhaps we can improve it if we change a couple words here a
couple things and you bring support for it. It is very fundamental, I will
give you one example the stock on hand which we are having major problems
with thus is something that we could have resolved."
Chamber of Commerce General Manager, Kevin Herrera.