Yesterday’s sitting of the Tax Commission saw the appearance of a medical practitioner, and management of various private construction companies in the country.
Established in November 2011 by President Yahya Jammeh, the commission of inquiry looks into tax evasion and other corrupt practices of accountants, legal practitioners, companies, and private persons, medical practitioners and institutions required to pay tax to the Gambia Revenue Authority.
The commission was also mandated, among other things, to ascertain the extent of loss of public revenue resulting from non-payment of capital gains tax, personal income tax and sales tax; and to determine the role of individuals, groups and professional bodies in the evasion and avoidance of tax.
It will also enquire into professional malpractice by members of the public as it relates to obtaining goods through widespread issuance of false and dud cheques and other malpractices by members of professional bodies as these have affected foreign direct investment in The Gambia.
Mbowen Clinic
Dr Tamsir Mbowe, owner of Mbowen Clinic, told the commission that he is a private medical practitioner, adding that he started working with the government since 1994 to 2012.
Dr Mbowe explained that he renders medical service and surgery, stating that he was aware that he has tax obligations to the state.
“I was paying my tax,” Dr Mbowe added, stating that he opened his clinic in 2009, and it was registered and that he earned his income as a medical practitioner, but his clinic is a charitable institution.
He said he paid his staff, but also deducts tax from their salary.
Dr Mbowe adduced that he is paid a salary by the state.
“I do not have any document to support my claim that my clinic is a charitable clinic,” he informed the commission, stating that the service he renders are surgery and medical services, and the witnesses to that are the patients he has treated.
Copies of his clinic’s business registration certificate, its renewal certificates, trade license from KMC, pay as you earn for 2003 and income tax deposit for 2004, were all tendered.
The commission ordered him to go to GRA, for him to be assessed on his income tax, and his business registration certificate to be brought before the commission.
Kalipha Bayo & Sons Construction Company
Kalipha Bayo, owner of the Kalipha Bayo & Sons Construction Company, told the commission that his company was established in 2010, and a photocopy of the certificate of incorporation and the business renewal certificate were tendered.
Mr. Bayo informed the commission that the main objective of the company is to render construction services to the people, but stated that since the inception of his company he never won any contract.
He added that he normally paid income tax, because without paying income tax you cannot win a contract.
His income tax payments for 2010 and 2011 were all tendered.
Gam-solar Energy & Engineering Company
The managing director of Gam-solar Energy & Engineering Company, Hands Notebool, a Dutch national, also told the commission that the company was incorporated in 1998.
He said they provide solar energy to the people, and a photocopy of his incorporation, business registration certificate and his memorandum of association articles were jointly tendered.
Mr. Notebool told the commission that currently they have 12 staff, and explained that they are not paying sales tax for the solar energy, as they are exempted from paying sales tax.
Evidence of payment of income tax from 1999 to 2011, and a certificate exempting him from paying sales tax were tendered.
The commission at that juncture ordered him to furnish the commission with his pay as you earn schedule.
Sapotooge Boloonge
Sand EEP Madhav, managing director of Sapotooge Boloonge, was also at the commission, and said the company was registered in 2010.
He produced the business registration and renewal certificates for 2010 and 2011, adding that they are constructing the new National Assembly building, and they have 58 experts from
He also told the commission that they are not paying tax, as they are exempted from paying tax, further informing the commission that they did not appoint any labourers, but they have a sub-contractor.
The commission ordered him to provide the commission with his certificate exempting him from paying tax, and also to bring his memorandum of association articles to the commission.
Green Impact
Ebrima Sonko, managing director of Green Impact, adduced that his company was incorporated in 1995, and a certificate of business registration and its renewal were tendered.
He stated that his company is engaged in agriculture and an irrigation project.
He told the commission that his company has from 18 to above 40 staff, and his income tax from 2007 to 2011, and evidence of remittance of pay as you earn from 2009 to 2011 were tendered.
Mr. Sonko added that he did not pay the sales tax, because his contracts were donor-funded projects, and also government works, adding that he has worked for the government until 2005, when he retired voluntarily.
“I always worked for the government, and the NGOs,” he stated.
Ganis International & Engineering Company
The managing director of Ganis International and Engineering Company, Chankui Pilich, was also at the commission, and said his company was registered in 2004.
A photocopy of his business registration certificate and its renewal certificate were tendered.
He said they render civil engineering and construction works.
He tendered evidence of pay as you earn from 2005 to 2011, and income tax from 2005 to 2011.
The commission ordered him to provide the commission with evidence of his sales tax and his staff deduction schedules, as well as the memorandum of association articles to the commission.
Fanta Tin Tin Construction Company
Babucarr Jatta, the CEO of the Fanta Tin Tin Construction Company, said it was incorporated in 2010, and he produced the certificate of incorporation and evidence of renewal of the business registration certificate.
He added that the company is a construction company with 5 to 12 staff, and his corporate tax from 2010 and 2011, as well as two of his contract documents were tendered.
He was ordered by the commission to provide the commission with his sales tax from 2010 and 2011, and pay as you earn for 2010 and 2011.
The commission continues.
