CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – The annual general assembly and technical conference of the Caribbean Organization of Tax Administrators (COTA) is scheduled here in July.
The Director for Economic Policy and Development at the Guyana-based Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, Evelyn Wayne, said issues and solutions relating to the impact of the international tax agenda on Caribbean jurisdictions will feature at the conference.
Established in 1971, the COTA aims to improve tax administration within CARICOM, promote regional tax cooperation and harmonization, and collaborate with other tax organizations within the region and worldwide. Saint Martin is the only observer within the grouping.
“The purpose of COTA is to improve the efficiency of tax administrators within the community. At this point, when member states are encountering considerable problems with fiscal space, revenue generation is high on our agenda.
“So, our role is to collaborate to ensure that we share our experiences and for the betterment of tax administration within the Caribbean Community,” said Wayne, the COTA executive secretary.
At the end of the executive council meeting held here, Wayne said it was to discuss COTA’s strategic priorities and work program for 2024 and planning for the annual general assembly.
President of COTA’s executive council and Deputy Commissioner of Revenue for the Turks and Caicos Islands, Channel Andrews, said each country would have to implement its own individual measures outside of the tax administration, “but of course, revenue is critical to any country.
“The more revenue we collect, the better government will be able to provide services to the people of that specific country. So, once we can discuss ways to effectively and efficiently implement revenue measures that can better enable the country’s collection process and not burden the taxpayers.”
Comptroller for Inland Revenue in St. Lucia, Marcia Vite, said she is pleased that Castries will host the annual general assembly.
“Countries would volunteer to host the meeting. It’s always good when you can be the host, show off your island, and get the opportunity to invite some of your other teammates to the meeting to listen to all of the discussions.
At these meetings, you will get more comptrollers and heads of departments coming in and contributing at that meeting. So it will be at that level with many speakers coming on. Speakers will range around the world. So whether it be UN speakers or OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development), but more on the Caribbean and the Caribbean Experience.”
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