By Gerrino J. Saunders
Bahama Journal News Editor

The Government of The Bahamas has introduced new regulations that will address the high
concentration of liquor establishments in densely populated economically fragile areas and one
of the new regulations described as a ‘suitability’ clause may result in scores of existing liquor
stores and bars being forced to close their doors.
The new legislation will require the Department of Inland Revenue (DIR) to consider a number
of factors to determine if a liquor establishment is suitable for a particular area that may be in
close proximity to a school or place of worship before the license is granted or renewed.
While at the Office of the Prime Minister Shunda Strachan the Acting Controller at the DIR was
asked by reporters what will happen to existing liquor establishments that are in areas deemed
unsuitable.
She said, “That’s a very good question, one not for me to answer. But I’ll say this to you the DIR
is reasonable in what we do. And let’s say for instance you already have a liquor establishment,
but we now deem your premises unsuitable and so we are not going to register you. I don’t know
what that’s going to look like its’ probably going to look like us of course going through a period
of consultation. Can you amend your premises to make it suitable?
“But in any event the DIR has strict guidelines to follow which we will follow, we have no
choice. And once we follow them if a decision is given and it is not a decision that the business
owner can accept there’s a whole process of appeal. And so it’s not just the DIR,” said Strachan.
Having already invested thousands if not millions into a long standing business establishment
some liquor merchants denied a renewal may cry foul.
Strachan said in such cases the DIR does not make that determination and that liquor merchants
will have the opportunity to seek redress.
“First of all the legislation was enacted and we are not involved in that, our role is to carry out
the laws that have been passed; and if it is a decision made by the department in accordance with
those laws policies and procedures and it is not the decision the tax payer wishes to accept there
is a whole process that they can carry out. In other words the buck does not just stop at the DIR,
there is a process of review that does not include us,” said Strachan.
According to the Acting Controller it is very possible that existing liquor merchants would have
to cease operations during their appeal if they are denied a renewal.