The president of the National Business Council, Elena Viyella de Paliza spoke out against the over-zealousness of the government tax-collection practice in a talk at the American Chamber of Commerce yesterday.
“An example needs to be set so that the nation tunes in with what’s in store for its immediate future. One cannot talk about free trade and at the same time unfold a voracious hunger for taxes that goes against reason and the nation’s plan,” she stated in a press conference. She said that poverty can only be combated by creating jobs and the free trade agreement the DR has signed with the United Sttes and Central America can bring about the elimination of jobs if Dominican competitiveness is not strengthened. She says it is impossible to export taxes and urged that all legislation that undermines productive sectors competitiveness should be removed. She said that neither capital goods nor raw materials should be taxed. She urged that tax legislation in this country be modernized. She also called for government austerity.