Questionaire july to december2012-BUSINESS PERFORMANCE SURVEY -Impact of the VAT on your Business

ST. LUCIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS PERFORMANCE SURVEY JULY 2012 to DECEMBER 2012

In response to calls from members and other public sector institutions the Chamber is pleased to reintroduce its Business Performance Survey. The survey is meant to assess members’ views on the state of their business and the impact of the newly introduced Value Added Tax on their business. This will permit us to get a more rapid assessment of the state of Business in St. Lucia. Your cooperation is required in completing this survey and returning it as soon as possible to the Chamber. Fax # 453-‐6907 or Email: [email protected]. Thank you for your speedy response. (Please place the appropriate number in the boxes provided). 1. Sector 1. Agriculture 4. Distribution 7. Retail 2. Tourism 5. Construction 8. Insurance 3. Manufacturing 6. Banking & Finance 9. Other Services 2. How would you assess your sales over the following periods? A. July to December 2012 compared to Jan to June 2012 B. July to December 2012 compared to July to Dec 2011 Options: 1. Less than 5% increase 4. Less than 5% decrease 2. Between 5% and 10% increase 5. Between 5% and 10% decrease 3. Over 10% increase 6. Over 10% decrease 3. How would you assess Actual Sales in the period July to December 2012 compared to Projected Sales for the

same period July to December 2012? Options: 1. Actual sales were less than 10% higher 4. Actual sales were less than 10% lower 2. Actual sales were between 10% and 20% higher 5. Actual sales were between 10% and 20% lower 3. Actual sales were over 20% higher 6. Actual sales were over 20% lower 4. What is your business forecast for the first six months of the year 2013? Options: 1. Decline of less than 5% 5. Growth of between 5% and 10% 2. Decline of between 5% and 10% 6. Growth of over 10% 3. Decline of over 10% 7. No Change 4. Growth of less than 5% 5. What is your business forecast for the last six months of the year 2013? Options: 1. Decline of less than 5% 5. Growth of between 5% and 10% 2. Decline of between 5% and 10% 6. Growth of over 10% 3. Decline of over 10% 7. No Change 4. Growth of less than 5%

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6. How would you assess the employment situation in your organization over the last six months? 7. What changes do you anticipate in employment for the next six months? Options: (for question 5 and 6) 1. Increase 2. Decrease 3. No. Change 8. Prioritize the issues listed below for Chamber actions this year 2012. Economy Crime Low Productivity Poor Work Ethic Legislative Reformation Value Added Tax Reform 9. What is the major issue confronting your sector? ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 10. How would you assess prospects for economic growth for the year 2013? A. In your sector B. In the economy as a whole Options: 1. Excellent 2. Fair 3. Poor 4. Don’t Know

11. SPECIAL FOCUS SECTION How has the newly implemented Value Added Tax affected your conduct of Business? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What changes would you recommend that would make the tax more business friendly? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What recommendations would you make to Government to improve the prospects of the Economy? _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________