Tomorrow, the Prime Minister will take the amended Business Tax Bill to the House of Representatives for a second and third reading. And it is expected that the proposed business tax rate of 24.5% will stand. But it will do so without the PUP’s support. A PUP release today says that the tax proposals will have what the party calls debilitating consequences for Belizean businesses and families.
According to the PUP it could also cause the loss of jobs for more than 700 Belizeans and an increase in phone rates, while also holding back new investments for both BTL and Smart. In this regard, it should be noted that Speednet which operates the Smart Phone Service is owned by the leader of the PUP, John Briceno’s family. But the PUP release says it’s not about that; it says that the government needs a comprehensive tax policy. Not what it calls punitive laws, quote, “using the tax hatchet to settle scores.”
The debate on the Bill will ensue tomorrow. It will be interesting to note which PUP’s show up and say what because the party is hardly reading from one song sheet as three of the representatives are aligned with the old guard and three with the new.
