Carib Scope

分类： business

  • Revenue Authority to drive digital overhaul, rebuild public trust

    Revenue Authority to drive digital overhaul, rebuild public trust

    In a major policy address, Barbados Revenue Commissioner Jason King has announced a comprehensive reform program designed to revolutionize the nation’s tax administration framework. Speaking at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Barbados conference, King outlined an ambitious agenda targeting systemic modernization, enhanced compliance mechanisms, and the restoration of public trust in the tax system.

    The reform initiative follows an extensive internal assessment that identified significant operational challenges stemming from legacy infrastructure. Commissioner King acknowledged persistent issues including fragmented systems integration, inadequate automation, and disjointed processes across different tax categories. These deficiencies have resulted in constrained real-time information sharing, ineffective compliance monitoring, and suboptimal arrears management—all contributing to diminished public confidence and voluntary compliance rates.

    Central to the transformation strategy is the commitment to digital modernization, which King characterized as an absolute necessity rather than merely an optional upgrade. The Barbados Revenue Authority plans to develop a fully integrated digital platform supported by robust cybersecurity measures and hardware enhancements. A key component involves integrating BIMPAY—the Central Bank’s instant payment system—into the BRA’s payment ecosystem to expand non-cash transaction options.

    The authority’s 2026-2027 roadmap includes procuring a modern core tax administration system, addressing tax receivables reduction, eliminating the refund backlog, and implementing strengthened governance protocols based on organizational review findings. King emphasized that the identified gaps represent opportunities for improvement rather than institutional failure, noting that the honest self-assessment directly informed the authority’s strategic priorities.

    A significant philosophical shift will see the BRA transition from reactive compliance measures to proactive, data-driven approaches using risk-based methodologies. This transformation aims to reduce unnecessary interactions for compliant taxpayers while focusing audit and enforcement resources where risk exposure is highest. Notably, customer experience enhancement will be integrated directly into compliance strategy rather than treated as a separate initiative.

    King highlighted recent achievements including the Online Land Tax Clearance Certificate that has substantially reduced processing times, revised corporation tax returns, and the implementation of the Car Rental Levy Return within the TAMIS system. The commissioner also noted the BRA’s landmark achievement as the first public institution to attain ACCA-approved employer status.

    Emphasizing the critical relationship between public trust and effective revenue administration, King framed the reform program as essential to national development under Barbados’ 2030 strategic roadmap. While acknowledging that meaningful transformation will require sustained effort and collaboration with stakeholders including accounting professionals, King expressed confidence that with clear planning and committed partnerships, the authority can build a tax system that earns public respect and pride.

  • High Court throws out WIN candidate’s account closure case against Scotiabank; says law reform needed

    High Court throws out WIN candidate’s account closure case against Scotiabank; says law reform needed

    In a landmark ruling with significant implications for banking customers, Guyana’s High Court has dismissed a legal challenge against Scotiabank’s account closure practices while simultaneously calling for legislative reform to protect consumer rights.

    Justice Nicola Pierre ruled Tuesday that Scotiabank acted within its contractual rights when it terminated the account of Gobin Harbhajan, a political candidate for the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party. The judgment emphasized that the Personal Financial Services Agreement signed by all customers explicitly permits the bank to close accounts without cause provided 30 days’ notice is given.

    “This constitutes an unqualified contractual right that does not require the decision-maker to form any judgment or evaluation,” Justice Pierre stated in her written decision, underscoring the bank’s legal position under current contract law.

    The case emerged after Scotiabank closed Harbhajan’s account in August 2025 despite it being in good financial standing. The WIN candidate alleged political discrimination, claiming the closure resulted from his party affiliation and that all WIN members had similarly lost banking access.

    However, the court found no substantiated evidence supporting these claims. Affidavits from Scotiabank’s representative Vibert Jones denied any knowledge of Harbhajan’s political affiliations or any systematic closure of WIN members’ accounts. Justice Pierre noted that “mere assertion or correlation is insufficient” to prove political discrimination.

    The ruling addressed multiple legal dimensions, including:

    1. Contract Law: The court affirmed that banking relationships remain primarily governed by private contract terms rather than public law principles

    2. Procedural Fairness: Justice Pierre determined that banks owe no duty of procedural fairness in account closures as they administer private services, not government functions

    3. Regulatory Compliance: Allegations of Anti-Money Laundering Act violations were dismissed as these obligations are owed to regulatory bodies, not individual customers

    Despite upholding Scotiabank’s actions, Justice Pierre issued a compelling call for legislative reform, noting the critical importance of banking access in modern digital societies. She recommended the National Assembly consider establishing an independent financial services ombudsperson to investigate account closure complaints—a mechanism already implemented in other jurisdictions.

    “The purely contractual nature of the banker-customer relationship that insulates banks from liability at common law is undesirable given the centrality of banking services in contemporary life,” the judge observed, highlighting the growing disconnect between contractual rights and societal needs.

    The decision also clarified that unincorporated political parties like WIN lack legal personality, preventing collective claims, and found no evidence supporting claims of reputational damage or improper sanctions against the party or its members.

  • Politic : Tourism, a major pillar of economic development (video)

    Politic : Tourism, a major pillar of economic development (video)

    In a strategic move to position tourism as the engine of economic recovery, Haiti’s Minister of Tourism John Herrick Dessources unveiled a comprehensive development blueprint during the 36th “Tuesdays of the Nation” forum on February 10, 2026. The presentation detailed twenty concurrent initiatives demonstrating the government’s commitment to transforming the sector into a primary economic driver.

    The physical infrastructure component encompasses ten regional projects spanning multiple departments. Northern development focuses on enhancing visitor facilities at historical sites in Milot and Cap-Haitien alongside modernization efforts at Cap-Haïtien International Airport. Southern regions including Grand’Anse and the West are seeing departmental office refurbishments, strategic tourist zone redevelopment, and strengthened security and training infrastructure.

    Complementing these physical improvements, ten structural modernization projects are underway. These include managerial recruitment expansion, tourist police reinforcement, technological modernization of sector operations, and legal framework reorganization for ministry-linked institutions. Additional measures feature a nationwide hotel inventory audit, training program standardization, and preparation for a national tourism investment forum.

    The multidimensional strategy targets five key strategic areas: service quality improvement in public and private sectors, crime reduction through tourism decentralization, equitable economic opportunity distribution, investment facilitation, and medium-to-long-term development planning. Minister Dessources specifically addressed security concerns, emphasizing geographic diversification of tourism offerings to mitigate crime concentration while spreading economic benefits more broadly.

    Expected outcomes include significant investment attraction, economic activity stimulation, direct and indirect job creation, and enhanced national competitiveness. The government reaffirmed its commitment to mobilizing all sector stakeholders and leveraging data analytics to maximize initiative impact and ensure sustainable tourism recovery.

  • NTUCB Postpones Protest for Membership Consultation

    NTUCB Postpones Protest for Membership Consultation

    Belize’s labor movement has entered a period of strategic recalibration as the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) announces the postponement of planned industrial actions. The decision follows intensive internal deliberations aimed at strengthening organizational cohesion and ensuring comprehensive member consultation.

    The temporary halt in protest activities does not signify abandonment of labor concerns but represents a tactical pause to facilitate broader engagement. Union leadership emphasizes that this interim period will enable more thorough consultations with member unions, particularly the Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU) and Public Service Union (PSU), which are currently polling their members regarding potential escalation strategies.

    Central to the dispute remains the contested acquisition process involving telecommunications provider BTL and Speednet. Despite recent developments temporarily pausing the transaction, union officials maintain that fundamental questions regarding worker protections and benefits remain inadequately addressed.

    NTUCB President Ella Waight clarified the organization’s position: “We are far from saying we have abandoned the issue or we are not concerned anymore. That is not the case. We still are very concerned because we still haven’t gotten answers to many of the questions we asked.”

    The labor congress has actively sought meetings with both the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and Smart management to address employee concerns, particularly regarding potential impacts on non-unionized workers. These requests have thus far yielded limited responsiveness from the relevant entities.

    The strategic delay allows for more comprehensive preparation while maintaining pressure on stakeholders. Union leadership indicates that protest actions remain imminent should satisfactory resolutions not emerge through ongoing dialogue processes.

  • Belmopan Mayor Defends Trade License Overhaul

    Belmopan Mayor Defends Trade License Overhaul

    The Mayor of Belmopan, Pablo Cawich, has publicly addressed growing concerns from the local business community regarding significant changes to their trade license assessments. This development follows a comprehensive city-wide review initiated by the newly appointed trade board upon taking office last year.

    The administrative overhaul began when officials discovered numerous discrepancies within the municipal licensing system, including blank business files, missing documentation, and outdated calculation methods for numerous enterprises. Mayor Cawich explained that these discoveries necessitated a wave of reassessments to establish fair and consistent fee structures across all business categories.

    Despite business owner frustrations, the mayor emphasized that no new regulatory regime was formally implemented. Instead, the trade board offered updated fee estimates designed to prevent overcharging that might have occurred under the previous system’s flawed calculations. The recalibration effort affected businesses across all sectors without singling out any specific industry category.

    When questioned about the legal authority for these changes without senate-level approval, Mayor Cawich clarified that the city didn’t implement new regulations but rather provided recalculated values based on proper documentation. This approach aimed to give business owners more accurate fee assessments rather than maintaining potentially inflated rates from the outdated system.

  • Businesses Protest Sudden Fee Calculation Changes

    Businesses Protest Sudden Fee Calculation Changes

    The Belmopan City Council faces mounting opposition from local enterprises following a comprehensive audit that triggered widespread recalculation of trade license fees. Municipal authorities defend the reassessments as necessary corrections to address inconsistent record-keeping and outdated calculation methods discovered during a year-long review process.

    Mayor Pablo Cawich maintains that the initiative represents an administrative correction rather than the implementation of new fee structures. However, Khalid Belisle, the United Democratic Party’s caretaker representative for Belmopan, contends the council acted prematurely. Belisle asserts that the amended trade license legislation was formally deferred in December, yet businesses continued receiving updated assessments throughout the capital.

    The controversy extends beyond licensing fees to include significant increases in garbage collection charges. Belisle cited a specific case where a small business owner experienced a 400% rate hike over four to five years, with charges jumping from $150 to $600. Belmopan operates under unique legislation that permits separate residential and commercial garbage collection fees, though the justification for consecutive increases remains unclear.

    The situation remains unresolved as municipal officials defend their audit methodology while business owners grapple with unexpected financial burdens. Critics argue the reassessments create unnecessary economic pressure despite the council’s claims of merely rectifying historical inconsistencies.

  • Air Century confirms direct flights between Santo Domingo and Venezuela

    Air Century confirms direct flights between Santo Domingo and Venezuela

    In a significant development for Caribbean aviation, Dominican carrier Air Century has officially unveiled plans to establish a new direct air corridor linking Santo Domingo with multiple Venezuelan cities. The airline made the formal announcement through its institutional communication platforms, marking a strategic expansion of its regional network.

    The proposed connectivity initiative will operate from La Isabela International Airport (JBQ) in Santo Domingo, targeting four key Venezuelan destinations: Caracas, Maracaibo, Valencia, and Barquisimeto. In an innovative approach to route planning, Air Century is actively soliciting passenger input through social media channels, inviting travelers to participate in selecting the most preferred destinations before finalizing flight schedules.

    This aviation development occurs within the broader context of Caribbean airlines progressively reestablishing connections with Venezuela after extended periods of operational hiatus. The restoration of air links follows previous suspensions triggered by complex regulatory environments and economic challenges that had constrained Venezuela’s aviation sector.

    Industry analysts observe that the new route network will require careful navigation of operational logistics and bilateral aviation agreements between the two nations. While specific launch dates and flight frequencies remain undisclosed, the airline confirmed that regulatory approvals and technical preparations are currently underway.

    The reestablished air bridge promises to facilitate renewed commercial exchange, tourism flows, and personal connections between the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. This connectivity enhancement is particularly significant for the Venezuelan diaspora residing in the Dominican Republic, who stand to benefit from more accessible travel options to multiple Venezuelan regions.

  • 1 800 new hotel rooms by 2030, says Gooding-Edghill

    1 800 new hotel rooms by 2030, says Gooding-Edghill

    Barbados is poised for a substantial transformation of its tourism infrastructure with an ambitious plan to add 1,800 new hotel rooms by 2030, according to campaign declarations from incumbent officials. Ian Gooding-Edghill, the Barbados Labour Party candidate for St Michael West Central and former tourism minister, revealed that over $1 billion has already been invested in tourism development projects across the island.

    The comprehensive expansion includes numerous high-profile developments currently in various stages of completion. The recently opened Indigo hotel on the South Coast, which replaced the former Caribee hotel, now employs approximately 300 people. Nearby, the emerging Hyatt property will contribute an additional 400 rooms to the island’s accommodation inventory. Further developments include the Pierhead project featuring combined hotel and residential spaces, the upcoming Montage resort in the Paradise area, the nearly completed Royalton, the planned 422-room Beaches resort at the former Heywoods site, and the Pendry resort scheduled for St Peter.

    Gooding-Edghill emphasized that these developments represent significant progress that will generate substantial employment opportunities for Barbadians beyond construction, including permanent hospitality positions and increased business for supporting industries such as taxi services. He also addressed previous criticisms regarding the demolition and reconstruction of the former Hilton hotel, noting that the new facility is now completely debt-free with an asset valuation exceeding $220 million.

    Additionally, the official reiterated his party’s commitment to enhancing transportation infrastructure, with expansion plans for both the Bridgetown Port and Grantley Adams International Airport, the latter scheduled to commence later this year.

  • BCCI Supports GoB’s Pause on BTL–Speednet Deal

    BCCI Supports GoB’s Pause on BTL–Speednet Deal

    The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) has formally endorsed the government’s decision to suspend negotiations concerning Belize Telemedia Limited’s proposed acquisition of telecommunications provider Speednet/SMART. Prime Minister John Briceño officially mandated the pause during a recent parliamentary session.

    In an official statement released this week, the BCCI emphasized that any movement on this significant deal must be predicated on establishing robust regulatory frameworks, ensuring complete transparency, and facilitating thorough public examination. The Chamber highlighted a critical regulatory gap, noting that Belize currently operates without modern competition and merger control legislation, creating an environment unsuitable for evaluating such a substantial market consolidation.

    Central to the BCCI’s concerns is the contested valuation of Speednet, which has been preliminarily estimated at approximately $80 million. The Chamber insists this figure demands rigorous, independent verification and must be subjected to comprehensive public scrutiny to ensure accuracy and fairness.

    The business advocacy group has specifically called upon the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to prioritize and advocate for essential legislative reforms before even considering the transaction for approval. The BCCI has affirmed its commitment to participate actively and constructively in any legitimate public consultation process initiated by the PUC, provided it is conducted with genuine national interest at its core.

  • ICAB urges clarity in tax laws as global reforms reshape landscape

    ICAB urges clarity in tax laws as global reforms reshape landscape

    The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Barbados (ICAB) has intensified its advocacy for more transparent and consistent tax legislation, emphasizing that international tax reforms are revolutionizing the global financial landscape at an unprecedented pace. During the organization’s recent conference at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, Marilyn Husbands, Chair of ICAB’s Tax Committee, delivered a compelling address highlighting how these sweeping changes necessitate a fundamental transformation in professional accounting practices.

    Husbands articulated that the rapid evolution of global taxation frameworks demands accountants move beyond traditional compliance methods and advisory approaches. She specifically identified Pillar Two of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Global Minimum Tax initiative as a strategic inflection point rather than merely a technical adjustment. This framework, designed to ensure large multinational enterprises pay a minimum corporate tax rate across jurisdictions, carries profound implications for legislative interpretation and application in Barbados.

    The tax expert cautioned that conventional methodologies for tax computation are becoming obsolete as regulatory changes outpace established processes. She emphasized that professionals must cultivate a more skeptical and interrogative approach toward data and automated system outputs, particularly as technology becomes increasingly integrated into tax reporting systems. “Our role lies not in passively accepting data, but interrogating it with rigour, confidence, and professional scepticism,” Husbands stated, questioning whether automated outputs genuinely reflect legislative intent and underlying risk profiles.

    Furthermore, Husbands underscored the critical importance of maintaining professional independence as the cornerstone of objective judgment and public trust. She characterized independence not merely as a regulatory requirement but as an essential mindset for practitioners. As Barbados continues balancing international tax alignment with competitive preservation, Husbands concluded that continuous professional education and proactive engagement with compliance developments have become indispensable components of professional credibility.