Later on in the day, the public outrage against the bill started to build when Belizeans reviewed the document's draft schedule.
For example, seen here, the government proposes to charge owners of amusement park rides owners 500 dollars per day. International Performers and Entertainers will have to pay 500 dollars per day. Belizean entertainers like musicians and DJs will have to pay 200 dollars a day. After some of the entertainers saw the document, they made angry posts on social media pointing out, that these taxes will basically force them out of the industry because they certainly don't make enough money to afford the tariffs.
Here's what attorney OJ Elrington had to say about it today when we asked:
Orson "OJ" Elrington - Attorney
"The effect of the amendments is going to be an albatross, a serious deterrent for small businesses. It will be a burden too heavy to carry for the small man and small woman. It is retrograde. It is archaic. And it makes no sense."
Cherisse Halsall
"There was a specific complaint about peddlers, especially in small villages. We're talking about the kids that sell juice on the bump."
Orson "OJ" Elrington
"Juice, plum, mango, any person that sells anything in a public place will now be subject to a trade license."
Cherisse Halsall
"When was the consultation period for this?"
Orson "OJ" Elrington
"Well, you would need to ask the government that. I know of none, but you would need to ask them. That's a question for them. I have no knowledge of any consultation taking place. When I reviewed the legislation this morning, a few of them jumped out at me for one. One was obviously in the entertainment industry. As we know, most of the people who participate in the entertainment industry in Belize it's not our profession. It is something that they try to catch and kill. They try to get a little bit of money here. And there and under this new regime, all entertainers - you're talking about DJs, singers, musicians, dancers, anybody who provides any type of entertainment will be subjected to having to get a license."
Cherisse Halsall
"It says a maximum fee of $200 per day, but most musicians don't perform every day."
Orson "OJ" Elrington
"And most musicians probably don't even make $200 for a performance for the day. So you are absolutely correct when you say that."
As we told you the blowback o this one is enormous and we'll be probing the implications of this new piece of legislations next week.
