By JYOTI PRATIBHA
Mataqali landowners, who have also been actively participating in the logging industry, could soon have a reason to rejoice.
A group had met with Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama the past week and told of diffi culties in being in the logging business and paying of 15 per cent withholding tax.
This reduced their capacity to invest in and develop their businesses, they explained.
Withholding tax is the amount withheld and sent directly to the government as partial prepayment of tax on account of the final tax liability.
Commodore Bainimarama, after discussing the matter with the landowners, directed the Ministry of Forestry to get a report together on possibly decreasing this withholding tax the landowning loggers pay to 2.5 per cent.
This is to help provide the cash flow to make developing their businesses more viable.
Commissioner Western Commander Joeli Cawaki was part of the meeting. Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority was also understood to have been involved in the discussions.
“Forestry now has to get a document together for the Prime Minister to decrease this withholding tax they pay to 2.5 per cent,” Commander Cawaki said.
“They had met and informed the Prime Minister the diffi culties they face in being fi nancially viable.”
The report is expected to be tabled within a week.