Members of the Barkeepers Owners and Operators Association of Trinidad and Tobago (BOATT) staged a protest outside the Parliament Building in Port of Spain yesterday, warning that a proposed increase in gaming machine taxes would impose an unsustainable burden on businesses already under strain.

Speaking on behalf of the association, Guniss Seecharan of Reform Village, Gasparillo, said bar owners are “very disappointed” with the proposed gaming machine taxes, noting that current fees already impose significant costs.

“Presently, the law exists where we have to pay (in taxes) $6,000 for one (gaming) machine and $120,000 for roulette machines. That is already strenuous on our pockets,” he said.