Mayor wants urgent re-evaluation of city properties

Mayor of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, Ubraj Narine has advertised the need for re-evaluation of properties within the municipal reach, owing to the antiquated record that is being used to determine rates and taxes owed.
During the quarterly update on Tuesday, Narine told the media that the last evaluation was done some 25 years ago and many stakeholders are paying below value for their properties. According to the Valuation Act, property must be valuated every five years.
“It is something that all businesses within the city needs to do a property reevaluation. The last list [was] done since 1996. And you have all these four stories and three stories building going up,” the Mayor highlighted.
He added that this move is not touted with the intention of stymieing businesses, but rather, it is the responsibility of the Council to ensure that the correct taxes are paid.
“It is not about attacking businesses and people out there. But people have a duty and an obligation to do and they should do it so that we can be able to have the benefit and proper service from the City Council.”
Since 2018, the local organ had announced plans to target a holistic re-evaluation within the city, after it was found that a number of residential properties were converted for commercial use, but those owners are still paying residential rates.
In other financial matters, a decision was taken to continue its waiver of interest for residential and commercial taxes through 2021 until further notice, having recognised the continued economic impact from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Narine said this measure will provide relief to homeowners and businesses within the municipality. From June 2020, the Council opted not to charge interest on the general rates and taxes for 2020 only. Interest for the previous years remained unchanged.
“COVID-19 is still here and we’re trying our very best to help the Private Sector and residents as well so that they can come forward to pay the right taxes and we’re trying to work with them. All of the interest in 2019 and way back, they will still have to pay that but we waiver 2020 and 2021.”

City Hall restoration
President Irfaan Ali would have met with the Mayor and Deputy Mayor this week to discuss matters of the city. The Mayor said support was assured for the rehabilitation, as well as completion of the administrative building at City Hall for staffers.
“Everybody wants to see City Hall building restored. That building is a historic one that I’m focusing on since I took office. The President committed to assist us to restore that building as well as the administrative building.”
The steel structure of the administrative building has been completed to the tune of $65 million. Narine said Government is considering injecting $30 million into the project, a decision that will be finalised upon additional engagements with Local Government Minister Nigel Dharamlall.
“The Minister did make mention that he will see to give us a $30 million and from our purse, we will see to put maybe $50 million. That $80 million can take this building a far way. Tomorrow (Wednesday), we will have a meeting with the Minister of Local Government to finalise these instructions of the President.”
Narine further noted, “The Council will continue to remain resolute in the provision of services to the general public and is willing to listen and work with partners, domestically and internationally to enhance in the improvement of the general aesthetics of our municipality,” a statement highlighted.
During the presidential meeting, President Ali shared Government’s move of making an advance payment of $100 million to City Hall that would aid in executing important projects. (G12)