Tax Chief Denies Political Interference in PM’s Sister’s Case

The Director General of the Belize Tax Services Department has declared that there is no political interference in her unit.  Her remarks follow the request from Love News for an update on the tax arrears of Vanessa Briceno, sister to the Prime Minister.  Back in April 2021, it came to light that Vanessa had defaulted in taxes.  While the initial figure was said to have been eleven point one million dollars, Prime Minister Briceno corrected the media, saying it was less than one million dollars that was owed.  According to the Director General, Michelle Longsworth, Vanessa has since paid off the arrears owed.

Michelle Longsworth, Director General, Tax Service: “Like Mr. Munnings, Ms. Briceño was offered the same treatment. She was brought in. She made satisfactory arrangement to pay. She has paid off her debt and so there was no need for us to take enforcement actions because she made or she stayed committed to her payment arrangement. I think sometimes it’s kind of sad that everything is so political. I can tell you the prime minister is the Minister of Finance. Minister Coye is the minister of state in the Ministry of Finance. At no time do any of these ministers use their political power to intervene or to interfere in the daily operations of the tax administration. I can tell you that does not happen.”