I see the post election hurrah is over and we’re back to the usual talking points and muddying of the issue(s).

@david (not bu) 10:18
Good advice!

@adrian
You are owed what is due. Full stop. I wonder how many others are in your predicament.

@ac & carson
Yes, defaulters at all levels should be “called out.”. Does the government have the balls to do that in cases where the biggest defaulters are “buddies” and “pals?”

Just Observing

Why is there no question about that,because you said so.Like any business there are success stories but there are far more failures, I have seen lists on the BU of many hotels that have closed, these are not all owned by multi nationals a lot of people lost their savings in these hotels owners investors workers.

I agree government should be paying the people who they owe………..I understand they do not have the money to pay but they would have it if they were doing their jobs. What concerns me is that government also fails in it’s due diligence, there are many hoteliers who owe government……….the names of the hotels, the amounts owed and their owners names should be printed in the newspapers so that taxpayers will know that they are not benefiting from tax dollars being spent on marketing, while foreign hotel owners flourish, these unscrupulous hotel owners should be exposed because they do enrich themselves at the expense of others. Hotel owners should be made to do their own marketing and not at the expense of taxpayers, then maybe government will have the funds needed to repay the hotel owners who play fair. Government seem to have a problem exposing certain culprits to the detriment of the taxpayer.

I do not know of any instance where a foreign hotel owner when closing their premises ever sold it to a local bajan (i could be wrong) but I heard of many instances where the hotel is sold to a foreign interest and the former owner leaves the island without still owing NIS, taxes, and half the island including supplier in the millions. The money they get for the sale does not even have to touch the island, all transactions are done outside. Lone Star was just sold to another foreign interest, can government say that Roberts is not owing them or other people on the island??

That should read, hotel owners who sell their properties are known to leave the island owing NIS, taxes and everyone else including suppliers in the millions of dollars.

The issue of businesses not paying taxes and government doing same is nothing new. We all know how things operate in the ‘islands’. Another businessman in Adrian’s position would have made a call a long time ago and gotten his cheque in the mail. It is the culture of mediocrity which we lovingly embrace.

Will the Central Revenue Collection Agency make a difference?

What is it saying to foreign donor organisations, when they see the Barbados Private sector with such MASSIVE outstanding arrears?

What do the rating agencies think about this untenable situation?

Is the outstanding MASSIVE amounts owed to Government part of the reason the local busineses are selling out to Trinidadians in an effort not to pay up?

Only yesterday I found out that the Huge property in Eagle Hall which used to house PLANTRACT LTD. has been sold to Trinidaians who intend to transform it into a big warehouse complex to store Trinidadian products.

Al the Bajan businesses on the property have been give eviction notices.

@ Carson C. Cadogan | March 8, 2013 at 9:30 AM |
“What do the rating agencies think about this untenable situation?”

Now whose fault is that? From your repertoire of lying excuses who should be fingered as the scapegoat for this untenable situation?
OSA (your Seethru man stuck like a fishbone in your craw) and the BLP for advising the private sector including Jada and preconco not to pay their taxes?

Man stop the blame game and come to the stark reality that your party has been in charge of the Treasury for the past 5 years and not the BLP, not the rating agencies.

Just admit that this parlous state of ineffective tax administration is purely IMF (It’s My Fault) behaviour of the present government.

In the same way that Adrian is required to pay Gov’t its due, the Gov’t (I use the amorphous term Gov’t to cover Civil servants, Parliamentarians etc.) The Gov’t should pay those to whom it owes refunds/rebates etc. in a timely manner.

The question is why do some of these Corporations refuse to pay their outstanding taxes etc.? I suspect that the reason some Corporations refuse to pay Gov’t is because they believe that the Gov’t lacks the enforcement will or the regulators have no teeth to act against them; either that or they hold the threat of labour upheaval over the Gov’t ( as we can’t afford to pay otherwise we will lay off some people) a genteel form of blackmail but in small labour markets where the loss of a few jobs could have major political implications for any Gov’t such threats can’t be dismissed offhand.

The Gov’t still holds some cards the same way that Marshalls can be dispatched to arrest those who fail to pay child support why can’t the Gov’t publish a list of Corporations that are in arrears of taxes for a period of two years or more? A form of naming and shaming they can call it “The Corporate Deadbeat list” with semi- annual publishing of May 15 and November 15 each year.

Let’s see who are good Corporate Citizens or who can withstand the negative publicity.

@ Sargeant | March 8, 2013 at 9:55 AM |

The Revenue laws in Bim already have enough teeth. Directors of all businesses in Barbados can be held personally liable for the non payment of statutory financial obligations like VAT, PAYE NIS and Income Tax along with property taxes and corporation taxes.

It is not the laws but the enforcement of the laws that is the incestuous problem among pals and bosom buddies in corporate and cocktail circuit Barbados. And this applies to both sides of the politically corrupt divide.

Would you Sarge, if put in the MoF’s position, name and shame your party’s financial sponsors and backers?

In reality a lot of foreign entities who purchase hotels in the island(s) have their own reason for doing so, be it tax write-offs in their countries, laundering, etc, etc. I challenge anyone to tell me that most of them do it for love of local bajans or island people. When they sell these properties for millions to other foreign individuals or entities i guarantee it is nothing for anything other than the love of money or they would be selling them to the local people. Most times they leave the government of the day, who refuse to expose their crimes, and the taxpayers in dire financial straits.

Truth,
Woodville WAS owned by the Walcott family. Robin Walcott changed the name to Allamanda and later sold it to company that is operated by Lief Brandel (Amaryllis Hotel), who in turn sold it to Harlequin. I understand that Amaryllis is also up-for-sale.

it is incumbent upon all of us to want our democarcy to survive and not condone those with self interest to penetrate or do harm to the system cause in the end all would suffer.it is therfore we as a people to do our civic dutiesand openly without fear of reprisal to question those within our system would want to cheat the govt and people of their fair share and rightfully OURS.

Don’t care how many watch dog commitees, inquiries, studies (they love the last two, wonderful chance to waste more taxpayers money) they hold; unless and until the government start doing DUE DILIGENCE, something that should be already written in the legislation, and stop kissing the ass of those with hidden agendas and lots of money to buy hotels, run ponzi schemes, etc, etc,; unless governments start exposing the dishonest hotel owners, then it would just continue to be more of the same for decades to come.

@Adrian

To repeat, stick to the script. You run a legit business, you pay your taxes ontime. Government is required by law to do the same. It is not your problem to worry about government’s inability to collect taxes.

Here is the link to support your earlier point. And to think our populated is thought to be highly educated.

http://www.smithsgore.com/property-single.php?id=1001143

I have been following this particular blog with interest as it is the clear example of one of the big reasons why Barbados is in it up to its neck.
The politicians FCuk the ones they can and put their butts up at the ones they cant and take it straight and strong lubricated with $.
Fcuking Immoral prostitutes. Its a shame $ dont carry aids.
But in passing as this blog is about “business.Another reason why poot ole Bim in the deep chocolate .Follow this.
I have a good freind a wealthy business man in France(well who wants poor freinds?)He was looking to invest in Millions in the Caribean.He is linked to an Arab company in Dubai.
We talk on Skype.So being the patriotic person i am .I put forward Barbados as a HUB for his business.He speaks four languages fluently.Told him that bajuns are well educated, sensible people. that proerty was depressed here so he would find some good deals for his new Hub.
That I had some freinds who would be able to give him assistance to intigrate.
He had just flown back in from the Seychells where he has other business interests.
So he asked me where he could get some basic rundwon on the matters that were of concern an he didnt want to fly again to the Caribbean.I looked up The Barbados Embassy in London so that he could make and appoinment and see them as London France is now just a quick hop on a nice first class train. I gave hime the # and said .I am SURE they will be able to help you
Attached is his reply AFTER calling OUR EMBASSY in UK:
**
useless pricks, they do not understand anything
and obviously friday is not a good day to work
they kept passing me on to several people without even bothering to listen what I had to say
: then, they kept telling me that” ***** was not in charge of VISA***

I ask myself why I bothered.
Anoother host of Jobs gone.

How much does it cost us for an Embassy in UK??

.

here is your tourism advertising.
http://barbadostripadvisor.wordpress.com/2013/03/08/british-professor-and-wife-stabbed-in-caribbean-knife-attack-telegraph/
http://barbadostripadvisor.wordpress.com/2013/03/08/british-mps-to-meet-minister-over-barbados-rapes-concerns-caribbean360/

No surprise that the overseas consulates would turn away business people who may have honestly genuine agendas and by some mysterious display of genius let in the real dishonest business people………….makes you ponder.

Miller etc.
If the Gov’t as you intimated is engaging with some Corporate scofflaws in a quid pro quo arrangement whereby donations/benefits to a political party/politician is used as a tool offset noncompliance with tax liabilities then that Govt/Party is cheating the citizenry.

I hope that you would encourage your Party to raise this issue ASAP (the Estimates) is an ideal opportunity so the naming and shaming can commence.

As always I don’t have a political horse in this race just hoping for a more equitable Barbados.

I have been in business for a very long time. My company is totally up to date on BIDC rent,NIS, PAYE, VAT, and Corporation Tax. As a matter of fact, we have no current claims on government for any type of refunds, but if we did, what the hell has government paying us got anything to do with the those in the private sector who do not pay their taxes? The Minister of Finance used this feeble excuse when the Chamber of Commerce complained about tax refunds due. Most of you making excuses for government probably do not know that most VAT refunds are due when a company exports more than it sells locally. So, we don’t need the foreign exchange? When an exporter has to borrow money to cover his expenses, and pay interest on it while government owes him money, that is tantamount to levying a tax on exports. There is absolutely no doubt that a very large number of companies owe government agencies millions, but are they large corporations, or are they a myriad of small to medium sized businesses like lawyers and accountants, and yes, entrepreneurs who have got themselves in way over their heads? You have to stop this nonsense that the tax dodgers are large white or foreign-owned businesses. This is simply not the case. As for the closed-down hotels, many were family-owned. When things start to go south and the business cannot find its way out of difficulties, are you saying that the owners should continue until they themselves are absolutely penniless? Don’t forget that most small/medium-sized businesses do not operate pension schemes, and these owners still have to live through old age. So ac, CCC and your cohorts, get a bit of perspective – understand the facts. Or shut up! Steupse!

If the media was inthe business of looking out for the country,s best interest by now all that is owed by these rich fat cats would be paid however we know that,s not going to happen cause as seen from this very isssue once the alarm has been sounded the ones who are always calling for FOI in govt resorts to the tatic of protecting the staus quo the very thing which they accused the govt of. prefering to stick to the script.

ADRIAN

Excuse me but I dont want to send this thread off track.

BUT>>>>>

“BARBADOS MOVES UP IN TOURISM RANKING

Barbados has been ranked third in the Americas Region and 27th in thw World overall in Travel & Tourism competitiveness index complied by the Geneva based World Ecconom Forum.”

How is it that you are always ready and able to barge onto this blog with GLOOM AND DOOM about Barbados but never, ever able to comment of news such as this?

@CCC
So everything’s okay then. No need to clean up the place, no need to stop the crime, no need to develop on our UNESCO heritage sight, no need to promote the island, no need to keep hotels in business, no need to attract new investment. We can relax and just drift along in the same old way. After all we are 27th in the world. We can sleep easy.

Great you didnt move up because of anything you did,it was Cyprus is a mess because of Greece and Estonia was the second biggest loser economy in the EU. This reminds me of when I played football, and everyday we would have sprints and one fat lineman Dennis would always come last.One day another fellow to the coaches astonishment was last, and he yelled Tom why are you last.. he said cause Dennis isnt here.

I was visiting Uk and I was robbed,the outcome was I ended up laughing.
I called the police,to be told; sorry we cannot attend we have only one and quarter policeman to patrol that area.
Whaaaa???!!