Panton Warns Revenue Bill Gives PM Sweeping Powers
The proposed Revenue Authority Bill is facing another wave of political resistance, this time from UDP Leader Tracy Taegar-Panton. She argues that the legislation would place sweeping authority in the hands of the Minister of Finance, a portfolio held by Prime Minister John Briceño. Panton warns that concentrating so much control under one office raises serious questions about transparency, oversight and political interference in the management of the country’s revenue system. Here is how she explains her concerns.
Tracy Panton, Leader, UDP
“There are a lot of issues with this bill. Who the bill represents in terms of which agencies the bill will be collecting resources for and also who is controlling it. There is one person, absolutely one person who will be making decisions, controlling the advisory committee, appointing the CEO, appointing the deputies of the CEO, deciding when and how which pieces of legislation will apply and you know who that one person is according to the law, the minister of finance who happens to be the prime minister of Belize.”
As we’ve reported, the bill will be debated in the Senate next week.
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