Dear Editor,
I am indeed very disappointed that the citizens of Georgetown — particularly those in the legal profession and civil society groups — have not come out against yet another attempt by the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown to unlawfully double-tax them.
The most recent attempt that I refer to is the declaration by the Council of their intention to charge residents a fee of two hundred dollars per barrel for the collection and disposal of their household waste. Their declaration that the City Council is an autonomous body and must generate its own revenue is really an assertion that the Council is above the law and can gouge the pockets of its citizens.
First of all, just like the parking meter debacle, the Council is proceeding again in a high-handed manner, without consultation with citizens, who are the stakeholders. This is unfettered bullyism at best.
But secondly, and more importantly, this action is illegal. The Council is obligated to provide refuse collection and disposal service from the property rates it collects. It can’t then turn around and charge another fee for providing the same refuse collection and disposal service that is already catered for in the property rates. This is double-taxation.
The Council first implemented this illegal scheme in the commercial district; and when it got away with the scam, decided to broaden the scam.
How would the Council go about implementing this system with more than 42,000 households in the city?
Best regards,
Sambu Jacobus
