Regional Business

• Pay up or lose assets,T&T warns tax defaulters

The Trinidad and Tobago government intends using all legal measures, including seizing properties, if people refuse to pay their outstanding taxes by the time the amnesty ends in May next year, Finance Minister Winston Dookeran has said.

"After the amnesty period, the State will utilise the full extent of its legislative authority to ensure that compliance with relevant taxation acts is followed, as government seeks to make good on its tax receivables, broaden and diversify its tax base," Dookeran told the Senate.

"After May 31, 2011, when the amnesty period ends, the BIR (Board of Inland Revenue) will aggressively pursue enforcement actions for delinquent accounts. This will involve the use of garnishee orders and distraint actions, that is, levying on the assets of taxpayers with delinquent accounts."

Taxes outstanding amount to TT$13 billion (US$2.02b), but the penalty and interest charges, amounting to TT$8 billion (US$1.33b) overall, will be waived if taxpayers take advantage of the amnesty, Dookeran said.

"The amnesty will be offered to all resident individuals and companies who have not filed returns of income for any year up to and including the year 2009," he said.

- CMC

• 5 candidates emerge for Caricom sec gen post - reports

Foreign Minister Winston Lackin con-firmed Wednesday that Suriname had nominated Henry MacDonald as the replacement for outgoing Caricom Secretary General Edwin Carrington.

MacDonald is currently Suriname's permanent represen-tative to the United Nations.

Sir Edwin, 72, demits office at the end of the year after 18 years as the region's top public servant.

Regional media reports say that five persons, including MacDonald, have been nominated for the post being vacated by the Trinidad and Tobago national.

The names of the nominees are being submitted to Barbados' Foreign Minister Maxine McLean, who is heading a search committee.

The other candidates for Carrington's job are reportedly CARICOM assistant secretary general for regional trade and economic integration, Irwin La Rocque of Dominica; former CARICOM deputy secretary general, Dr Carla Barnett of Belize; St Vincent and the Grenadines' ambassador to CARICOM, Elsworth John; and the St Lucian ambassador, Edwin Laurent, a former diplomatic representative of the Organisation of Eastern Carib-bean States to Brussels.

- CMC