Goumba summons Lebanese traders, asks them to pay tax arrears

Prime Minister Abel Goumba has asked Lebanese traders who collectively owe the Central African Republic 1.5 billion francs CFA (US $2.7 million) in taxes to meet their obligations so that the government could pay the salaries of civil servants, state-owned Radio Centrafrique reported on Wednesday.

"Peace can be guaranteed only when salaries are paid monthly," Goumba was quoted as telling the traders whom he had summoned to the capital, Bangui.

He told them that legal action would be taken against those who failed to pay taxes for the first half of the year. Civil servants are owed wages for September.

The transitional government of Francois Bozize, who seized power in a coup on 15 March, failed to pay September salaries due to a sharp decline in excise revenue, blamed on a deterioration of transport routes following heavy rains. This hindered the transportation of imports and exports.

Lebanese own most of the shops and businesses in Bangui and in the provinces. They told Goumba they were victims of unlicensed traders, who illegally competed with formal businesses. They urged Goumba to reform the economic sector to ensure fairness.

Goumba summoned the traders as the National Transitional Council, the state's law advisory body, examined the government’s emergency programme for the country's reconstruction.