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BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS (FEBRUARY 25TH 2004) – The Ministry of Finance said Wednesday that the decision to publicise the Report of the OECS Tax Reform and Administration Commission was based on the unanimous decision of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) Monetary Council and that the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis will only develop its position in respect of the Report after the recommendations have been discussed in full with various groups in St. Kitts and Nevis and nationals given the opportunity to provide feedback.
“In particular, St. Kitts and Nevis represented by the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas, wholeheartedly supported the proposal to publish the report. In fact, a veto by any country could have prevented the publication of the report in the region in its current form,” the Ministry statement said.
According to the Ministry there is virtually no information in the report pertaining to St. Kitts and Nevis that is not already published in some form.
“Specifically the issues in relation to the fiscal performance of St. Kitts and Nevis have been raised in various Budget Addresses and other publications of the Government and of multilateral bodies such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB),” said the Ministry of Finance.
The Ministry stated that the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has no reason whatsoever to suppress the contents of the report.
“The Commission during its meeting with the Cabinet was informed of the Government’s policy and track record of consultation and was urged by the Hon. Prime Minister to discuss the contents of the report with the various groups and stakeholders in St. Kitts and Nevis comprising of social partners, economic partners including the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the representatives of major political parties in St. Kitts and Nevis,” said the Ministry of Finance.
It further stated that copies of the report were sent to all participants on Friday 13th February in preparation for the meetings scheduled for the 16th and 17th February 2004.
“Unfortunately, it seems that a few participants did not receive the report in time for the meeting. However, in view of the fact that most participants received advanced copies of the Report and that the Commission visited our Federation on the invitation of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, it is quite clear that the Government acted in good faith in its attempts to give the Commission an opportunity to ventilate its views concerning the tax situation in St. Kitts and Nevis and the rest of the OECS,” said the Ministry.
It also stated that neither the Government nor the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) Monetary Council has adopted the recommendation of the Commission and the report, as it now stands, represents only the views and recommendations of the Commissioners.
“The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis therefore has no reason to conceal the recommendations contained in the report. In fact the Government will only develop its position in respect of the report after the recommendations have been discussed in full with various groups in St. Kitts and Nevis, and our people have been given the opportunity to provide feedback on the Report,” said the Ministry of Finance.
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Representatives of the St. Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the St. Kitts and Nevis Hotel and Tourism Association among the economic stakeholders during the recent discussions with St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas in preparation for the 2004 Budget. (Photos by Erasmus Williams) |
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