

Thursday, July 19, 2011 – In preparation for the implementation of Value Added Tax (VAT), The Ministry of Commerce, Business Development, Investment and Consumer Affairs will be conducting a training program geared towards educating stakeholders of the small business sector on the new tax system. The program will lay the groundwork for small businesses to become VAT compliant by the time VAT takes effect on October 1st 2012.
The Training Venues within the five districts are as follows:
Gros- Islet – Grost – Islet Secondary School
Castries – Grammar Learning Institute on Lanse Road
-National ICT Centre
Dennery – Clendon Mason Secondary School
Vieux-Fort – Vieux-Fort Secondary Comprehensive School Campus B
Soufriere – Soufriere Comprehensive Secondary School
Registration for the VAT training commences on July 18th, 2012 at the Small Enterprise Development Unit (SEDU) within the Ministry of Commerce and continues throughout the duration of the programme. It should be noted however, that on the dates of July 19th and July 20th , 2012 between the hours of 9:30 am and 3:00pm, there will be a Business Development Officer assigned to each of the following registration venues to assist the registrants based in the aforementioned 5 districts.
Gros-Islet – Gros-Islet Community Centre, next to the Gros-Islet Playing Field
Castries – Small Enterprise Development Unit (SEDU) – Ministry of Commerce,
4th floor, Heraldine Rock Building, Castries Waterfront
Dennery – Mabouya Valley Development Foundation, La Caye Dennery
Vieux-Fort – Vieux Fort Town Council, Opposite Hobie, Vieux Fort Highway
Soufriere – Soufriere Town Council, Bridge Street, Soufriere
According to Officer In Charge of the Small Enterprise Development Unit, Barbara Innocent Charles it is not required that persons be present for the entire 10 week program.“ We recognise that they are busy people so for only five hours out of their business life, we require them to attend the training at the location that is convenient to them. The registration form clearly identifies those locations and time slots. The five hours of training is further broken down to two and two and a half hour sessio
The Ministry of Commerce highly encourages all eligible businesses to register early for the VAT Training Programme to ensure that they are adequately prepared and VAT compliant by October 1st.



