The Ministry of Finance (MF), through the Technical Secretariat of the COVID-19 Fund, had, by Monday, April 19th, 2021, made payments related to the Basic Basket Programme, to 94 local companies, for a total amount of US$ 25,079,090.00 (twenty five million, seventy nine thousand and ninety US dollars).
Of these 94 payments, 50 are from the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry (MTCI), 24 from the Secretary of State for Cooperatives (SECoop), and 20 from the National Logistic Centre (CLN).
The Technical Secretariat of the COVID-19 Fund has, so far, not received any payment request from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and continues to work closely with the implementing ministries to accelerate payment to the companies supplying the Basic Basket Programme.
When the documents of the payment requests are complete, correct and meet the payment requirements according to the Law, the Technical Secretariat of the COVID-19 Fund processes all the documents and makes the payment, according to the rules in force.
However, before the Technical Secretariat of the COVID-19 Fund makes the payment, all companies must comply with their obligations, namely the payment of Income Tax in the amount of 0.5% of their total income, as established by the Tax Law. Companies must show the receipt of payment of income tax to the Technical Secretariat of the COVID-19 Fund, so that they can proceed with the final payment.