Seychelles: New tax regulations proposed for foreign artists

CINEA said it would work with different authorities to draft the new procedures, regulations as well as a proposed tax.

CINEA CEO Gaellen Bresson said that all foreign performers would now have to send an application to the agency before their performances on the islands.

“They will have to apply to us in writing and they will need to tell us why they are coming to the islands, where they will be performing, who their local contact or agent is, where they will be staying as well as provide us with their full itinerary. We will need all these details,” he said.

Bresson added that artists staying for more than a month would have to do a medical test. “We will need to treat these people as we treat other expatriate workers because, at the end of the day, these artists are from a money-making industry. After all, when they come to the Seychelles they are earning a living.”

Bresson said that with the new measures the country would be able to collect more revenue from performing artists and bands. Currently they are only paying for their gainful occupation permit, which is a standard in most countries.

“We went to Mauritius recently and we had to pay our gainful occupation permit, we had to pay the municipality where we were performing as well as for other services such as for fees for putting up banners and posters,” he said.

Seychelles News Agency spoke to event promoters Basil Bouchereau and Elijah who have been involved in bringing foreign performers to the island nation. The music promotors think the new regulations, including tax, will have a negative impact on efforts to diversify entertainment in a country where people are thirsty for the arts.

“We feel that the agency should do more consultations and weigh in all the pros and cons before they implement such measures," Bouchereau said. "A lot of people think that when artists come here they make a lot of money, but this is not the case because of the size of our population. Yes they can make millions but not here."

The promoter said it was expensive to bring artists to Seychelles and this could only happen with the support of sponsors.

“We are killing the industry,” Elijah said. “We are bring in these people because we are happy to do so and because we feel we are doing something to bring in much-needed entertainment to the islands. So we keep the city alive, and moreover, we give others the chance to make a living.”

Elijah said with such shows, people selling food, drinks and other artefacts were also benefitting. He said the majority of Seychellois did not get a chance to see those artists when they performed because this would mean travelling, accommodation and other expenses. So these artists were brought in for the masses to enjoy.

“Even with tickets, we have to sell at a reasonable cost to attract more people. So no, there is no big profit there,” Elijah said.

But some local performers have welcomed these new regulations. The owner of L’Echo band, Berno Cedras, said: “I think it was high time for a decision like this. These people come here, they make a profit and then leave.”

Cedras said nothing was left for the country because it was only the promoter and artist who benefitted. He also thinks that a licence and tax for local artists is necessary.

“I think the industry needs to be regulated because we have a lot of expenses with equipment and transport among other things. If we pay tax it would benefit us, as we can get tax returns and improve other aspects of our work," Cedras.

Elijah thinks this will only benefit a few performers who have contracts with tourism establishments. “For us artists, writing our songs, composing music and trying to put gigs together is a daily struggle and a tax will only add burden on us,” he said.

This article was first published on Seychelles News Agency.