Opposition forces delay of tax empowering bill
THE Government yesterday suspended debate on a Bill increasing the powers of the tax authorities in dealing with tax dodgers after the Opposition called for more time to review the provisions.
Minister of Finance and Planning Dr Peter Phillips offered the olive branch after Opposition members objected to his attempt to force the Bill, An Act to Amend the Revenue Administration Act, through the House of Representatives in one week.
Opposition Spokesman on Finance Audley Shaw pointed out that the Bill had only been tabled in the House last week Wednesday, and advocated that it needed to be fully reviewed by a House committee.
Shaw said that notwithstanding the urgency demanded by either the requirements of the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) insistence on meeting certain international requirements, there was also the issue of the wider powers it would give to the commissioner general of taxes. Shaw noted that the Bill would increase and widen the powers of the tax commissioner, facilitate access to information available from various parties as well as the exercise of the tax administration department’s investigative, audit assessment and enforcement powers.
“I really believe that a piece of legislation of this magnitude that has the potential impact that it has, should be referred to a committee of this House for more careful examination,” Shaw insisted.
He was supported by the Opposition’s spokesman on Transport and Works, Karl Samuda, who accused the finance minister of dictating to the House by seeking to push through the Bill after only a further week’s delay.
“The only appropriate thing to do is to put the matter to the committee. It does no harm to what you are seeking to do,” Samuda said.
Opposition spokesman on tourism, Edmund Bartlett, also joined the call, suggesting that the bill be reviewed by the House’s tax committee.
But Dr Phillips said that the Government did not have time for the bill to pass through the committee process, and suggested that the adjournment of the debate by a week would be sufficient for full discussion.
The Opposition objected to this, calling for referral to a House committee. But Phillips’ insistence on a one-week delay was backed by the Government’s majority in the House.