By Belize Live News Staff: Prime Minister John Briceño has introduced the Revenue Authority Bill in the House of Representatives, advancing government’s plan to transform the Belize Tax Service into a semi-autonomous revenue authority, and he is defending the move against unease from within the department itself.
The bill has drawn concerns from Belize Tax Service employees as well as from the business sector. Among staff, one worry put directly to the Prime Minister was the perception that government is downplaying the skills existing officers already possess.
“Absolutely not,” Briceño responded. “Actually that’s why I made the point that it requires specialized skills.” The Prime Minister argued that the current arrangement, with the Belize Tax Service falling directly under public service regulations, works against building that specialization. “Just to drive home the point, they could literally send you anybody when they do transfers,” he said. “But once you go in a semi-autonomous authority, then they have a better chance to manage their staff, they have a better chance of hiring the people that meet the standards.”
Tax work, Briceño continued, demands expertise that goes beyond collection, “also ensuring that businesses and persons are not trying to deliberately evade taxes, and when they make a mistake they can help them to get back on their feet.”
The Prime Minister pointed to existing institutions as the template. “Just like the Belize Central Bank, Port Authority is another example, whereby you need this specialized skill and that’s why we have that as an authority,” he said.
The concerns of employees and the business community are expected to remain part of the debate as the bill moves through the legislative process. Breaking Belize News will continue to follow its passage.
