Casinos hit Govt over ‘treachery’

A casino workers’ union yesterday accused the Government of “naked treachery” by planning to debate in the Lower House on Friday a measure to double taxes levied on casinos even before the Government meets the union for promised discussions.

The Union of Members Clubs and Lottery Workers (UMCW) said the Government’s scheduling of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Order 2017 was a breach of an offer from the Office of the Prime Minister on October 19 to meet and discuss concerns with Minister in the Office of the Attorney General Fitzgerald Hinds.

“We are still awaiting for Minister Hinds to schedule a meeting with the union. Needless to say the union membership were alarmed and surprised with the Legal Notice 117 which indicated that the 100 per cent increase in taxes on gaming equipment was tabled for Friday.”

They said Hinds contacted the union yesterday to arrange a meeting.

“Where is the honestly and transparency in the process of governance if the union cannot trust the word of the Prime Minister? Of what value will any discussion with Minister Hinds be if the 100 per cent increase in taxes have been already passed in the Parliament?”

The union asked if the Government was mocking the union and if it wanted to shut the industry and asked to meet the Prime Minister.

“This increase in taxes on the equipment will not adversely affect the owners relative to the employees. The owners will simply reduce the number of equipment in an establishment so as to pay less taxes on unprofitable equipment. This will result in less employees.

“The union calls on the Government for an opportunity to discuss the issues and facts of the industry before this tax is passed in the Parliament.”

The TT Members Club Association (TTMCA), in a statement yesterday, said Finance Minister Colm Imbert had ambushed them and asked for him to meet them now in line with his offer to do so in a statement on October 26.