Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has warned tax defaulters in Dominica to pay up or face the consequences. Skerrit, who also doubles as the Minister for Finance, said private individuals and corporate organizations owe the government in excess of $257 million in taxes. He said that the tax debt is hampering development goals in the country and must be addressed as urgently as possible.
Skerrit said the total tax debt owed to the state as at December 31, 2019 amounts to EC$257,921,653.74 and provided a breakdown as follows:
The prime minister said there is no way the government can execute major developmental plans without the money.
“Government needs the money. We have to put things in place and urge those who owe, to pay up,” he said. “I am warning those hearing my voice to pay up by Ash Wednesday…I am not in the business of shaming. We all have a duty, having been entrusted with the responsibility of collecting tax on behalf of the state, we have to be diligent.”
He added that the massive debt is “causing untold challenges to the rebuilding and development of the country,” and warned that the government will take decisive action to recover those tax debts.
This article is copyright © 2020 DOM767
