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The Gambia's Tax Burden Can Scare Investors

  1. Posted on Sunday 31 January 2010 - 13:58
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    Mr. Cherno Jallow, a Queen’s Counsel at the British Virgin Island believed that kind of tax that The Gambia levy on businesses can scare-away serious investors.

    Speaking at the event of the Bar Week under the theme: legal practice in the Gambia: opportunities for growth and development, Mr. Jallow said foreign investors want to invest where tax policies are realistic and reliable.

    however, he said, “a jurisdiction that regularly changes its tax policies and laws especially when changes are not subjected to prior public consultation and debate risks shutting its doors to serious and high net worth investors.

    He added: “when you over burden businesses with high tax you risk narrowing your tax base,” noting that any proposal to widen the business base must address taxation.


    Continuing with his presentation, Jallow said a robust an independent judiciary that upholds the law to all manner of persons, including government is also needed to lure investors.

    As he put it: “At the end of the day serious investors want to be assured in the unlikely event of any litigation in any jurisdiction they would receive fair treatment”.

    He further recommended for an independent public prosecution. The department of public prosecution, he added must be divorced from the office of the Attorney General. Jallow mapped out that democratic governance also is needed for growth and advancement of the country.


    This, he said must not mean the prevalence of free and fair elections, but that the government must be the first respecter of the laws of the country. According to him, government’s adherence to the law re-assures investors and illicit confidence in them.

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