For the past three weeks, there have been accusations hurled against the telecommunications company, BTL, claiming that they are in arrears of the General Sales Tax to the tune of tens of millions of dollars. After weeks of silence, the Department of General Sales Tax issued a release on Wednesday stating that, “It has come to the attention of the Department of General Sales Tax (DGST) that documents have been circulating to the media which indicate that the Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) owes the Department of General Sales Tax (GST) some $29.3 million.
The public is informed that an audit is currently being conducted and the process is in train. The Department’s position is that BTL is compliant in fulfilling their obligations to file and pay monthly as is required by law.
The Department is presently awaiting the completion of the audit that will determine BTL’s tax position.”
The Guardian spoke to BTL’s Chairman, Nestor Vasquez who was categorical, stating that, “as long as I am here we will not do things wrong.” Vasquez told us that BTL has never been assessed by the GST department until now. He further stated that it appears to be pure mischief making, adding that auditors from the department were at BTL and concluded their work in December of last year. After that was completed there was no assessment by the tax department. “BTL is a good, well managed company owned by 1,500 Belizeans along with the Government and the Social Security Board which hold shares, because of this we have to do things the right way,” stated Vasquez. He went on to explain that BTL goes through yearly audits by internationally affiliated company Panel Kerr Foster which has to present reports to internationally accepted standards and there have never been any problems detected in the past.
