Parliamentary Representative for Roseau Central, Joseph Isaac, has called on the government to implement the necessary legislation that will make it easier for the small business sector is to flourish in Dominica.
Speaking at the launch of the new Buy Dominica Supercentre on 33 King George V Street on Tuesday 1st December 2015, Isaac lamented that the private sector is unable to do it on its own.
“We cannot do it alone as the private sector,” Isaac said. “It has been many years now we have been talking about the Physical Incentive Act and reformation of this Act, we have also been speaking for many years now about the Small Business legislation that is still on the drawing board. We need to get to implementation and bringing that to parliament so that the legislature can actually pass those Acts so that the small business sector can be more vibrant.”
But Minister for Commerce, Enterprise and Small Business Development, Roselyn Paul, who was addressing the same function, said a number of bills have been passed in parliament that seeks to improve industries in Dominica, particularly tourism, and to some extent manufacturing.
“We too at the ministry are working feverishly to ensure that the existing draft legislation is finalized to be tabled in parliament shortly and there are also plans afoot to have consultations towards a policy,” she noted.
Paul stated that the government of Dominica continues to provide support to business people, or those with business interests, through the AID Bank, the National Development Foundation of Dominica (NDFD) and through the Ministry of Commerce’s Small Business Support Program.
“So we the government of Dominica is remaining committed and is taking affirmative action to ensure that our agro-processors and manufacturers advance and accelerate their business entities,” she noted. “We will continue to partner with you to uphold the vision of having this one-stop shop. A shop where each and every Dominican can go to find locally produced goods.”
Why wont you start with simple things which will assist to people starting business:
– reform Companies Act and simplify incorporation of companies: make it like in the European Union or USA – simple, cheap and without intermediary. Cut down pointless lawyers, which are charging ridiculous fees for companies formation. So local guy can incorporate company directly via companies registry and pay 100 EC. Why do you protect interests of lawyers which have to any value in it..
– abolish audit requirement for companies with balance less that 1 mil EC. What is the point of forcing small time trader to conduct expensive audit?
– PM could kick Dominica bankers a££s and make it easy to open bank account
– Reform tax system to make it beneficial to start own business: VAT relief for a few years, export guarantees etc
– Reform trademark registration so small business owner can register trademark without lawyers…
– reduce administrative burdens for small business owners
– introduce…
Isaac I wonder how many of these ministers can even understand what you are saying.Remember its a gang of fools you are talking to, no wonder the country is so darn backward!:
You should ask Isaac if HE understand what he trying to say
Isaac lamented that the private sector is unable to do it on its own, If you really want to help the private sector why don’t u ask for ministers to forsake their salary and own shares in companies, that way u all will be paid based on how well the economy is doing.
If skerrit was paid based on how well the economy is doing he would starve to death.
Why this obsession with the cabinet and Skeritt. Your suggestion is a good one but it should not be the Cabinet but the entire Parliament. In that way everyone will have some skin in the game and there will be less talk and more action.