Cabinet to Consider Previous Exemption Cases.

“I am basically enforcing what the law says and that is the process in which they are granted that exemption is wrong in law,”(Pic: Supplied)

By Andrew Fanasia Jr.

Minister for Finance and Treasury affirmed to the media that he will submit a paper to the cabinet to make a thorough consideration on the case of exemptions that have been granted by previous Finance Ministers which include other recent cases to be revoked.

Finance Minister Mr. Gordon Darcy Lilo revealed this yesterday in the light of the new position of the law they have obtained from the Attorney General’s Chamber.

Mr. Lilo stressed that these cases will subjected of certain review and then, could eventually lead to relocation of some of those exemptions.

“This was done according to the recent legal explanation which was given by the AG’s Chamber,” Mr. Lilo said.

Compared to other exemption which was granted in the past, he added, for instance in June this year, a total value of $8million has been granted out by the previous government.


He further stated that out of the $8million, $6.5 million alone was granted to Bemobile Company which has recently launched their mobile network in the country.

Mr. Lilo stated that the $6.5 million exemption was granted to Bemobile Company by the CNURA government under the hands then the acting Minister of Finance now the Member of Parliament for Aoke/Langalanga constituency.

Express understand that when Bemobile applied to bid for a second license provider of mobile services, they have outclassed Digicel Company on the basis that they did not apply for exemption which was stated in their (Bemobile) proposal and secondly they will pay up the bond.

Mr. Lilo however said that four months after the approval was granted Bemobile applied for exemption which was declined by the former Ministers of Finance on the 30th of April, “but then approved by the acting Minister of Finance in June, “they are blackmailing the system.”

Initially, Mr. Lilo said, the exemption was rejected by the committee but the Acting Minister for Finance acting contrary to all the advices and granted the exemption of $SBD6.5m to Bemobile in June. .

Mr. Lilo said that will also be the subject of revocation while showing the order paper which was signed by the acting Minister for Finance and Treasury to the media yesterday.

When asked what will happen to Bemobile if the Minister revokes the exemption, Mr. Lilo stressed that it is the law that says the company did not entitled to it.

“I am basically enforcing what the law says and that is the process in which they are granted that exemption is wrong in law,” Mr. Lilo affirmed.

Mr. Lilo told the media that this is an example of the case they are looking at, so that they can regularize why there is an inconsistency in decisions and also ensure that there is a level playing field applied to all operators in the communication industries and other investors.