by millions of dollars, according to the Chamber of Commerce.

During the 2000 Budget, changes in the way the tax was collected meant that some international companies got their bills hiked by as much as 100 percent last February.

And the latest Government statistics show that between June and September international business's tax leapt by nearly 17 percent or $6.4 million.

Now, after discussions with the international community, the Government is set to lower the tax to pre-Budget levels.

David Ezekiel, head of the International Division of the Chamber of Commerce said Government's intention at the time of the last Budget was to bring international business in line with local business and not to raise taxes.

And he said after detailed surveys of the international companies on the Island, the Government has pledged to take the levels back down in the next budget due to be delivered next month.

For full story see Business, Page 21 BUSINESS BUC