ANGUILLA--Alan Roe, a consultant economist of Oxford Management in the United Kingdom (UK), has just completed a revenue study in Anguilla. Roe is a lecturer in economics at Warwick University in the UK and a former Principal Economist at the World Bank.

He met with a large number of people during his 10-day visit that ended on Tuesday, March 9. The visit was planned by the previous Anguilla government and funded by the British Government.

Roe met with most departments of Government, including all sections of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Public Utilities Commission, Social Development and Education. He also met with persons involved in tourism, the financial sector, the Bar Association, the Chamber of Commerce and several businesses.

Roe told The Daily Herald his study was not about increasing taxes, but more about changing the structure of taxes in Anguilla. He said it was a very complex system and needed to be simplified, made more transparent, and detached from political intervention.

In connection with the collection of taxes Roe pointed out the large number of arrears of payment. He said the Inland Revenue Department was well aware of this, but was constrained by legislation that needed to be improved to reduce the arrears.

Roe gave a debriefing to the Executive Council on Tuesday morning and a draft report is expected within the next two to three weeks.