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STEERING COMMITTEE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE REVENUE AUTHORITY

Contact: Rose Marie Harris

Monday, December 01, 2003  - In response to the challenges confronted with respect to the governance of the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise Department, the Government of Saint Lucia proposed the establishment of the Revenue Authority in the Budget Address for Financial Year 2003/04. The Authority will be the administrative entity that governs the operations of the Departments. The objectives of the Revenue Authority will be:

1. To rationalize the operations of the Customs and Inland Revenue Departments;
    
2. To introduce more professional, efficient and cost-effective management practices;
    
3. To streamline the common services of personnel, training, accounting,
   development and maintenance of IT systems, document processing and administrative support;
    
4. To increase the effectiveness of technical activities resulting from the synergy of
   the merged agencies, such as audit and collection.

In accordance with the statement in this year’s Budget Speech, a Steering Committee chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, International Financial Services and Economic Affairs and comprising of members from the private and public sector was established on September 3, 2003. Its purpose is to examine, inter alia, the administrative, legal and technical arrangements for the establishment of the Revenue Authority, and it is to be comprised of representatives from the Public and Private Sector.

The composition of the Steering Committee is as follows:

Public Sector

Mr. Trevor Brathwaite - Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, International Financial Services & Economic Affairs, Chairman

Mr. James Charles - Comptroller Inland Revenue Department

Mr. Herman St. Helen - Comptroller Customs and Excise Department (Acting)

Mr. Wilbert King - Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Public Service

Mr. Andrew James - General Secretary, St. Lucia Civil Service Association
 

Private Sector

Ms Loraine Jolie          - Legal Profession
Mr. Jn Francois Sonson - Finance
Mr. Andre Chastanet    - Business Person
Mr. Keith Smith           - Business person
Mr. Arnold Clouden      - Customs Broker

Two (2) meetings of the Committee have been held in an effort to initiate the process and to have a better understanding of the intricacies of the Customs and Excise and Inland Revenue Departments, and the Revenue Authority. These are listed below.

• An Inaugural Meeting on Monday, October 27, 2003
   
• A Presentation on the Role of the Customs and Excise and Inland Revenue Departments and the Various Forms of Revenue Authorities on Monday, November 10, 2003. The Presentations provided information on the fundamental features that will determine the formation and success of the Revenue Authority, and some insight into the operations, functions and general nature of the respective Departments.

In addition to the above, visits to the Customs and Excise and Inland Revenue Departments have been arranged on November 20, 2003 and November 27, 2003 respectively. It is envisaged that the visits to these Departments will engender more intimate discussions with the Management Teams, and other staff members, to the extent that the character of these Departments will become more definite and clear. During this process the Committee Members will be furnished with relevant documents and informational packages to assist in the determination of a model for the Revenue Authority and the development of the framework for the establishment of this model.

The next stage of the process will be the development of a Work Plan for the establishment of the Revenue Authority. For more details, please do not hesitate to call Mr. Trevor Brathwaite, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, International Financial Services and Economic Affairs, at telephone numbers (758) 468-5502/3; E-mail tbrathwaite@gosl.gov.lc or Ms. Marie Alexander, Economist, Corporate Officer on 758-468-5506 or e-mail alexanderm@gosl.gov.lc.

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