By Lamin Njie
The National Assembly will hold an extraordinary session on Monday to discuss a proposal seeking to end the Banjul Breweries tax saga, it has been revealed.
“What is happening is that they have called for an extraordinary parliament session on Monday. All members are urged to attend. The minister is coming with a motion to review and amend the proposed tax rate,” a senior Banjul Breweries official told The Fatu Network on Saturday.
He added: “What they proposed to us is still high. Although they have not written to us, what we heard they are reviewing it from 75 percent to 35 percent.
“If the parliament is to do good for the Gambian people, they will probably knock it down further but that’s the situation as at now.”
Staff of Banjul Breweries last month took to the street to bring in home on the government their growing fears and apprehension over prospects of losing their jobs.
The staff believe that if the government insists on the 75% hike in tax levied on the company, many of them risk losing their livelihoods.
The Gambia government last year announced a 75% tax rise on wine and beer, with the move affecting sugary drinks too.
A senior official of Banjul Breweries Ltd told The Fatu Network at the time that excise hike from 10% to 75% was found in no country in the whole of Africa.
He also told the outlet the move will have a negative impact on the beverage manufacturing industry and the economy.
