IRD CRACKS DOWN ON THEATRE COMPANIES

Less than 24-hours after successfully staging one of its premier productions in Grenada, the Family Theatre Company (FTC) was confronted by tax officials from the Inland Revenue Department (IRD).

A source close to FTC said that a senior official of IRD telephoned the leader of the group Francis "Urias" Peters requesting that General Consumption Tax (GCT) be paid by FTC on its gate receipts from the three productions put on at the Trade Center at Grand Anse.

According to the source, the IRD official informed Peters that a decision was taken by "higher authorities" for all theatre companies staging shows in Grenada to start paying GCT since they were providing a service to the public. FTC staged three sell-out shows over the Independence holiday period with its major production,  "The Burial of Miss Faithlyn" in which top Jamaican actor, Oliver Samuel made a guest appearance.

The source said that Peters raised concerns about this development in light of contributions made to the nation by Family Theatre. He made mention of the US$2000.00 contribution which Oliver himself donated from his appearance fees to the local Hospital Development Fund.

He said that the IRD official indicated that he understood the position of Peters but was acting on "instructions" to collect taxes from local theatre companies. The source stated that FTC would be forced to increase admittance fees to patrons attending future shows in light of the new regulation imposed by Inland Revenue. The move is expected to affect other performing artists like Heritage Theatre Company (HTC), TUMDA and others.

It is not clear whether the IRD regulation would extend to persons staging dance parties and block-o-ramas in the country. Individuals not supportive of the ruling New National Party (NNP) government of Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell control two of the leading theatre companies in Grenada.

In the case of FTC, Peters is known to be supportive of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) of barrister-at-law Tillman Thomas. Peters' wife, Ann has been named by the NDC as its candidate to contest the rural St. Andrew South-east seat in the upcoming general election.

HTC's leader Christopher De Riggs, who is the Executive Director of the Grenada Chamber of Industry and Commerce (GCIC), has been branded "a national security threat" by Primer Minister Mitchell in discussions held with the chamber boss, Christopher De Riggs.

Dr. Mitchell also failed in a bid to prevent De Riggs from leaving the island to attend a regional private sector meeting in St. Lucia.