A new collaborative agreement between Saint Lucia’s tax regulator and the Eastern Caribbean’s leading music rights management organization is set to streamline enforcement of both tax collection and copyright compliance across the island’s entertainment sector.
On [date undisclosed], the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) and the Eastern Caribbean Collective Organisation for Music Rights (ECCO) Inc. formalized their partnership with a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that establishes a structured framework for secure information sharing between the two entities.
Under the terms of the arrangement, the two organizations will exchange key operational data to advance their respective enforcement goals. Shared datasets will include event ticket sales revenue, public attendance numbers for live and recorded music events, and other business records that enable accurate tax assessment and verify that venues and event organizers have met mandatory music licensing requirements.
The MOU also lays out clear protocols for joint cooperation when regulatory responsibilities overlap. These protocols include formal referrals of suspected non-compliance cases between the two agencies and coordinated investigative work when potential violations of both tax law and copyright regulations are identified.
To protect sensitive taxpayer and business data, the agreement includes strict confidentiality clauses that require all shared information to be processed and stored in full alignment with Saint Lucia’s existing legal framework. These binding requirements cover compliance with four core pieces of national legislation: the Income Tax Act, the Value Added Tax (VAT) Act, the Copyright Act, and the Companies Act.
Martin A. James, Chief Executive Officer of ECCO, emphasized that the cross-agency partnership marks a transformative shift for the region’s music industry. “This MOU is a significant step forward in our ability to ensure that the business of music operates with integrity and fairness,” James explained. “By working hand-in-hand with IRD, we can better protect the intellectual property rights of our member composers, performers, and rights holders, while promoting accountability across the entire entertainment sector.”
Felicia Ellie, Comptroller of Saint Lucia’s IRD, echoed that sentiment, noting that targeted collaboration between public revenue bodies and creative industry stakeholders delivers mutual benefits for both regulators and the sector itself. “Collaboration between public revenue authorities and creative sector organizations is essential,” Ellie stated. “This agreement will not only help strengthen overall tax compliance across the entertainment industry but also support the long-term growth of the creative industry by ensuring that all legal obligations are met transparently and efficiently.”
The agreement will remain in force indefinitely, unless either party chooses to initiate modifications or terminate the arrangement through formal mutual agreement.