Santo Domingo.- Industry and business leaders went yesterday to Congress in a last ditch effort to change the tax reform bill submitted by the Presidency.

In the meeting, Dominican National Brewery president Franklin Leon, and Franklin Baez, of the rum distiller Brugal & Company, asked the joint Senate and Chamber of Deputies commission to rescind the from 7.5% to 10% higher excise tax on alcoholic beverages, noting that sales would plummet.

Electricity

Macao-Punta Cana energy group CEO Roberto Herrera said his sector opposes the Presidency’s Articles 20 and 21 of the draft, which establishes an excise tax of 16% on domestic consumption of fossil fuel and oil to produce electricity.

He said they don’t have as reimbursement mechanism as provided to other systems. "Our concern is the impact that might have, first over the principle of fairness, and second because of the impact it may have on the tourism sector. Isolated systems provide power to Punta Cana, Bayahibe, La Romana and Las Terrenas.”

“We want fairness, transparency, a reimbursement process and improved oversight, "he said.

Auto dealers

For their part, the Vehicle Dealers Association proposed a division of the tax to be applied to new vehicles into two parts, to have less impact on consumers.