Dear Editor,
It is a very worrying situation when an organisation believes that it has the authority and influence to disrespect and disregard established laws of the country while it seeks to impose its own rules and regulations, codes and charters upon others.
Over the years, the Georgetown Municipality has become accustomed to breaking the rules in every shape or form, and getting away with it whilst demanding citizens, vendors and business persons abide by its municipal by-laws.
Its arbitrary increase in property rates, by a whopping 10 percent three years ago without it being gazetted, was and is unsanctioned, unlawful and criminal. Indeed, property owners in Georgetown need to demand a refund of the increases charged from then to now, as the relevant order bringing the increase into effect has only now been gazetted. There can be no retroactivity to 2017 of an increase published in 2020.
Their argument that the body: The Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown, is an autonomous body and has the authority to make decisions in relation to levying property rates is puerile. If the body is so self-governing, autarchic and independent, why did it have to publish the order in the Official Gazette at all?
Ironically, it is this same Mayor and City Council that declared it did not have the authority to institute a curfew or lockdown in the capital city, but had to wait on the Ministry of Public Health to implement recommendations on social distancing and hygienic practices to battle the coronavirus.
But citizens should be aware that not only was the 10 percent increase across-the-board on property rates throughout the city illegally instituted, but a whole raft of other fees and taxes — including the illegal container tax; the new burial maintenance fee; the commercial waste disposal fee; increased public health fees for barber shops, hairdressing and cosmetology salons; market fees and many, many more – were illegally instituted.
In fact, even that body’s recent announcement of the granting of an amnesty on interest for outstanding general rates for 2020 is completely illegal. The body: Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown, does not have the authority to grant amnesties and waivers, but can merely offer discounts in special circumstances. A discount is very different from an amnesty.
How much longer will the Georgetown Municipality be allowed to be such an appalling example of how a public entity should not be run? Such ineptitude, clumsiness and chicanery at a municipality is frightening
Sincerely,
Anu Bihari
