Bridgetown.
The lack of clarity over the correct rate for the Municipal Solid Waste Tax announced in the August 13 Budget may be affecting potential new investment.
This was the view emerging from a public forum on the impact of the Budget on businesses and workers held at Cricket Legends, Fontabelle, last night after one of the panellists, real estate developer Paul Altman, provoked a series of comments when he appeared unable to explain to a questioner from the floor how the new tax, announced at 0.7 per cent across the board on the non-improved value of land, would be applied.
“There is some confusion, and I think the confusion is even within the people who put the tax in place,” he said at the session organized by the School of Politics of the St Michael West branch of the Barbados Labour Party.
Two week after the budget, Minister of Industry Donvile Inniss told the media that the solid waste tax of 0.7 per cent on the non-improved value of land announced in the 2013-14 national budget this month was entered in error.
In making this clarification, Minister of Industry Donville Inniss said the authorities were now making a review.
“That matter is being addressed by the Minister of Finance and Commissioner of Land Tax,and I am sure shortly they will make the appropriate statement to a level of correction to the matter,” he added.
