BY SAMIE WAIKORI
Auki
MALAITA province needs improvement in its revenue collection mechanism.
Senior Revenue Officer from the Revenue Department under the provincial Ministry of Finance and Treasury, Mr John Houma made the account in light of working toward addressing the matter.
He said currently there is no revenue collection on business licences around the province except for businesses in Auki Town.
Houma said very few businesses pay their licences when province goes on its revenue collection rounds.
He said these are only the honest ones.
“This is an area of need for the province to work on it if wants to improve on its revenue collection.”
He said currently logging licence is the major area province is collecting its revenue from.
Adding that other main areas include shipping, passenger levy, Auki wharf, Auki market, shops in Auki, vehicle licences, liquor licence and others.
Houma however adds that the province is faced with challenges to its manpower, but adds that province is working to rectify this.
He says they are stepping up this year in making sure that businesses in Malaita province pay their licences.
He appeals to businesses to come forward and pay up, rather than having to wait for revenue collectors to go to them.
