Commission to be established under Duty Free Shops (Licensing and Taxation) Bill
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ST. KITTS, OCTOBER 25TH 2010 (CUOPM) – A Duty Free Shops Commission is to be established under the Duty Free Shops (Licensing and Taxation) Bill, 2010.
The proposed legislation, to be presented by Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas in his capacity as Minister of Finance, provides for the licensing of persons operating duty free shops, provides a facility for importing certain goods duty free, imposes and collects certain taxes and levies on the duty free shops and the duty free goods.
Clause 3 provides for persons who were operating a duty free shop prior to the commencement of the Act to be deemed to be licensed under the Act for a period of six months after the commencement of the Act after which they shall require a licence.
The Duty Free Shops Commission to be established will be responsible for reviewing applications for licences and making recommendations to the Minister of Finance in respect of the granting, refusal, renewal, revocation or suspension of licences.
The members of the Commission shall be appointed by the Minister of Finance and will comprise a senior officer in the Ministry of Finance, who shall be the chairperson; a senior officer in the Customs Department; a senior officer in the Inland Revenue Department; a senior officer in the Ministry of Tourism and any other officer from any Ministry, as the Minister thinks fit.