Books ship operations 'subject' to tax

The German management of the floating bookshop Doulos said all its operations in Malta are subject to Maltese VAT and income tax, just like all other Maltese operators.

"We feel it is only fair to contribute our share to the Maltese economy as other Maltese businesses do," the company said in reply to comments by Vince Farrugia, director general of the Malta Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprise - GRTU.

The management said last week they planned to return later this year and has applied for a trading licence to sell books.

Edward David, the ship's international programme manager, said they fully respected the statement by Parliamentary Secretary Edwin Vassallo that he could not take any position on the case before the Doulos application is processed in terms of current Maltese legislation.

But, he added, comments by Mr Farrugia needed clarification.

Mr David said the GRTU was reported to have said that the Doulos management had not yet provided any evidence that they were allowed to sell books in other European harbours. "In fact, we do not recall ever having been asked by the GRTU to provide such evidence," said Mr David, who provided a number of newspaper articles from different ports where the Doulos had been to recently saying books had in fact been sold by the ship.

"If further proof is required to clarify such matters, we would be glad to furnish Mr Farrugia with supporting documentation," he said.

All activities and visits are illustrated on the company's website at www.mvdoulos.org and www.mvlogos2.org

On its last visit to Malta last year, the government had decided not to allow the Doulos to sell books from its stock, arguing it did not have a trading licence.

This stand had been supported by the GRTU and by the Chamber of Commerce.