Dear Editor,
The Giftland Mall has viewed the recent statement by the Mayor of Georgetown with alarm and considers his comments disingenuous. It is important to note that within the last three months, both the Giftland Mall and its Chairman have moved from “entrepreneurs extraordinaire” and the largest single Private Sector social development project in Guyana, providing significant economic development and employing thousands gainfully, with a strong social conscience, champion of the poor and community ties, to “a delinquent puppet of the Opposition, a greedy and corrupt entity and a bankrupt and tax-delinquent company”.
This begs the question – how in three months have we turned from Guyana’s showpiece to this morally reprehensible entity? How did this transformation take place? This is what the public needs to be aware of and decide on – where this is originating and why this ongoing attack by elements within the coalition, led by a prominent figure, who has already attacked us in public along with his cronies. Why is it important to tarnish and discredit the sterling reputation of the Giftland Mall and its Chairman, Roy Beepat, who, until three months ago, was considered a friend and ally of the coalition?
What has happened in the last three months is that we have taken a stand, along with the OAS, APC, ABC&E, Commonwealth, Caricom, plus other international and local organisations and individuals, in calling for a transparent and free elections and proper counting of the votes, that my friends is the only thing that has changed!!
The facts are that Giftland has made every effort to be compliant with its taxes and has been actively pursuing City Hall for the last five years, in an effort to have this amicably settled, several letters have been sent with no response on the discussions held, we have been led down the garden path by Royston King, who had negotiated a settlement but in 3 years, despite our many attempts to have this drawn into a binding written contract, this was never done by the city side, the Mayor has conveniently neglected to point this out. We sat with the Mayor this year in our offices and made agreements to have this resolved, after weeks of prompting, to our surprise, we eventually received a written correspondence, not in line with our discussions. Against the agreement made to keep this year current taxes paid were applied against the illegally imposed interest figures.
The Mayor was intent on receiving interest at 21 per cent, which is unlawful, and a penalty in the figure of approximately $43 million, despite being told that the Mall had paid close to $500 million on public works, which included the public access road to the Mall and Demerara estate, street lighting, bus shed and public transportation, walkways and irrigation. This Mayor was also told that up to the time of writing, the Mall had not received the benefit of one day of service from the City services. We have installed our own sewerage treatment plant, we clean the roads and public areas, we have laid in our own piping for water supplies, and many other duties which taxes are paid for, but which has been borne by us. I repeat, the city has not provided not one day of service whatsoever and has no consideration for the hundreds of millions which has been spent on their behalf, they have refused to provide even basic garbage collection for taxes which they are demanding. Additionally, they want to charge interest at 21 per cent for bills which were sent retrospectively before any agreement was in place, and for the years that we were trying to achieve a settlement and figure to pay, they want to apply interest, although the delay was due to their lack of commitment to negotiate a settlement.
In concluding, the Mayor has taken a position of attack that is not in keeping with the groundworks which has been set and for which payments have already started to be made in good faith to keep negotiations going, and unless there is reasonableness, then this will be settled in our law courts. We the people should speak out against this victimisation of myself and the Giftland Mall which provides income to thousands and their families, a safe haven for visitors and residents alike.
We need to point out the obvious, the Mayor is supposed to be a principled, religious, decent, and honest person – he is a Pandit. I am kindly requesting that he remembers these principles and behaves within these moral responsibilities for which he is bound.
With regards,
Roy Beepat
Chairman, Giftland
Group
