(De Ware Tijd) – The government expects to earn around SRD 430 in extra revenues a year through a number of fiscal measures that will be implemented in the coming time. During a press conference in his office yesterday, Vice President Robert Ameerali stated that the implementation of FISO-2 has made these measures necessary. Among other things, the casino tax will be increased with 100%, excise duties on alcoholic beverages, wine and tobacco products with 50, 100 and 50% respectively. The sales tax will also be increased with two percent, while the so-called government take for a litre of fuel will be increased with 50 SRD cents. The road and vehicle tax will be reintroduced, possibly within a month’s time. A sales tax will also be levied on the tariffs for water and electricity. At the same time, however, some taxes will be lowered. Wage earners will pay SRD 50 less income tax, and levies for computers and related peripherals and cellular phones will be abolished. The general old-age benefit (AOV) will now be SRD 425 a month, possibly starting in February. According to Ameerali, the Ministry of Social Affairs is studying how to adjust other benefits such as those for people with disabilities. A number of the measures will take effect immediately, but the government must submit bills to Parliament for the approval of others, such as the increase of the casino tax. These bills are currently being drafted.
…business community not pleased
The business community saw it coming that the official exchange rate would be raised to market levels as the inevitable result of FISO-2. “It should have been done already”, say both Ferdinand Welzijn, chairman of the Trade and Industry Association Suriname (VSB) and Rahied Doekhie of the Association of Surinamese Manufacturers (ASFA). The tax increases are not appreciated due to a lack of transparency. “We have two points of concern,” Welzijn says. “There is no insight into the government’s spending patterns. They have announced some cost cutting measures here and there, but we have not seen anything concrete yet.” He says furthermore that it would be useful if a cost-cutting plan had been presented at the same time as the tax increases. The VSB chairman believes the government should set an example by accepting pay cuts. The lack of transparency is also to be deplored. Doekhie calls the lack of communication “worthless”. “And we told them that”. Yesterday, Vice President Ameerali promised that the tripartite talks between government, labor and business will be started again. “We are hopeful, but seeing is believing”, Welzijn says.