GCCI urges members to pay taxes

businesses owe City Council over B

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) is urging its membership and the general business community to honour their municipal responsibilities by paying their outstanding dues to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC).

The M&CC is reportedly owed an alarming amount of $16,297,310,598 at present, by business owners who have failed to pay their dues.

The statement highlighted that the rates and taxes account for a prevalent percentage of the total revenue for the M&CC as they are utilised to assist in the provision of significant services and the rehabilitation of Georgetown.

The GCCI said it was using its voice as one of the leading business support organisations in Guyana to urge members of the business community to be tax compliant, while encouraging the M&CC to take lawful action where necessary in this regard.

This release comes after it was confirmed by Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase Green in June that City Hall was low on funds.

Chase Green had told Guyana Times that for the M&CC to be able to run the city efficiently and cater for all the modern developments, it would require approximately $3 billion annually. Since many persons do not pay their taxes on time and the M&CC does not collect enough funds, deficits are encountered annually, she noted.

It was revealed by the M&CC that its finances were exhausted on sanitising areas in and outside of the city and rehabilitating focal buildings in Georgetown.