Johnny Bernal, president of the National Hotel &
\nRestaurant Association (Asonahores), warned that the hoteliers will remain firm
\nin their decision not to pay the 5% tax being levied on their services. Bernal
\ngave his statement after President Mej?a told his television audience that he
\nwould use all mechanisms at his disposal to enforce collection of the new tax.<\/p>\n
Bernal expressed his hope that the President would not use ?drastic and extreme?
\nmeasures, but instead allow the dialogue to continue.
\nWhen reporters on the program ?Una Vez a la Semana?, broadcast on the state-run
\nChannel 4, asked if there had been any sort of accord between the government and
\nthe business community with regards to the 5% tax, Mej?a said that he was happy
\nto see CONEP express its desire to reach a cordial agreement, but that he had
\nmade it quite clear he would not abandon his decision to collect the charge.
\nBernal told reporters that his people are persisting in their conversations with
\nthe government?s economic team.
\nAsonahores? leadership has asked its members to refrain from paying the 5%
\nsurtax on their services until the Supreme Court rules on the legality of the
\ndecree.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Johnny Bernal, president of the National Hotel & Restaurant Association (Asonahores), warned that the hoteliers will remain firm in their decision not to pay the 5% tax being levied on their services. Bernal gave his statement after President Mej?a told his television audience that he would use all mechanisms at his disposal to enforce collection … <\/p>\n