Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs
By Landing Ceesay
The Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Hon. Seedy Keita, told the Parliament that the Gambia’s 2022 Total Value of Tax Expenditure from January to August stands at D1.75 Billion.
“The total value of tax expenditure from January 2022 to August 2022 stood at D1.75 Billion. The exemptions were made under the existing laws, regulations, financing agreements, conventions and project documents. This includes the Foreign Service regulations, Vienna Convention for Diplomatic Relations 1961, and the Custom Act 2010,” he said.
Asked how exemptions would correlate with Section 149 (3) of the 1997 Constitution which states that any exemption no matter who has the authority shall be subjected to the approval of the National Assembly.
Hon. Keita responded that there is no conflict, because these are laws approved by the same National Assembly, and that all these exemptions are granted under the existing laws and no law conflicts with the Constitution.
The Finance Minister made these remarks on Wednesday during an oral questions and answers session at the Parliament on the status of the Gambia’s 2022 Total Value of Tax Expenditure.