A Puerto Rico-based extermination company has paid $10,000 in back licensing fees, penalties and fines after operating in the territory without a license for six years.
Saturday's Independent reports that Ecolab, which has provided extermination services since 1993 at major hotels and other businesses, took steps to comply with V.I. licensing laws once the violations were uncovered, paid its fines and back fees and is continuing to do business here.
Andrew Rutnik, acting Licensing and Consumer Affairs commissioner, is quoted as saying, "DLCA is not in the business of shutting down companies. We just want to make sure they're all licensed and paying their fair share."
Ecolab did not qualify for the current amnesty on business license fees or taxes because the firm was not previously licensed and in arrears.
Ecolab is now working with the Internal Revenue Bureau to determine what it may owe in back taxes, the story said.
