It is unfair, unjust and criminal not to do so
There is no doubt that City Mayor, Ubraj Narine came to the horse shoe table with youthful exuberance and bounding enthusiasm, determined to continue the coveted goal of bringing stability to the administration of City Hall, more so its finances; while working together with his council for the better good of the capital city and its citizens.
In showing that he understood the scale of the problem, and perhaps what can be done, he not only toured the wider reaches of the City for a personal guide and acquaintance as to its true state of affairs, but that he can also be recalled inviting members of the diplomatic missions for one such tour, announcing that the aim of such a visit had been to garner assistance towards making the Capital a better place. It was his plan of continuing the restoration process of a city, of which there was tangible progress seen everywhere, that had commenced with the coming to office of the coalition, former government of the APNU+AFC.
Of course, there was also the pivotal understanding that the City’s overall plan and mission would be best served, with a working relationship with the Private Sector or business community. This was attempted, but from observation it seemed that the Private Sector was more concerned with controlling the City, rather than effecting mutual and beneficial relations for a win win result. Even the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding yielded no satisfying result. We stand to be corrected in referring to a letter, in the relevant column of the Guyana Chronicle, prior to August 2, in which a letter was captioned to the effect that a Memorandum of Understanding without taxes being paid was a waste of time. It was a point well taken, since there were even face offs between the Mayor and the Private Sector, whenever he raised the question of the ridiculously high level of rates and taxes owed to his council by especially the business people, and even sections of the City that have accumulated in the billions; yes, billions.
It has been perennially stated in past columns, on this national travesty, that a municipality can only function effectively, first in paying wages to all its categories of staff, while providing the requisite services of proper sanitation, inclusive of regular and daily clearance of primary and secondary drainage systems, and cutting and clearing of grass reserves and parapets, among its many functions, when rates and taxes are regularly paid; a civic duty expected from all its citizens so charged with such an obligation.
No city, can be expected to deliver such services on a timely and regular schedule without available finances in its coffers, much less being owed the mountainous debt that is on the City ledger, compliments of defaulting citizens.
One would have thought that the advent of the first meeting between the new Local Government minister and Mayor Narine and his councilors, apart from discussing plans for the advancement of the city programme of restoration, would have included some definitive results on the outstanding rates and taxes from the private sector, and the minister using his considerable offices to get the business class to honour its obligation. Instead, what was uttered by the Minister amounted to what could be a declaration of war on the City Council when he announced that with or without the city’s support, the government was going to proceed with the restoration of the City. Such outright hostility was picking a dry quarrel, when there was no need to, except it was to be seen as Central government setting the stage for its political agenda, of returning the City to its rundown, hazardous state, which has already began to observe mounting garbage piles, a fact referred to in our editorial of 20.2.21.
That the Mayor is particularly concerned with the unpaid taxes that bedevil the ability of his municipal departments’ staff to perform their assigned duties is reflected in his latest statement surrounding a meeting with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry(GCCI), when he asked:”Why do you want to speak to me on vending when you are not calling on the business people to pay their rates and taxes. He further said “….this is the hub for the entire nation and our taxes are not up to date by business entities in the city”.
Undoubtedly, this is untenable and points to a deliberate strategy on the part of the significant sections of the business community, politically influenced as well, to starve the council of much needed funds, thus paving the way for a gradual collapse of city administration, leading the way to the goal of establishing an Interim Management Committee, disbanding the City administration in the process.
Why must this sordid affairs of business entities not paying their fair share of taxes, when smaller entities do, be condoned at the highest level? This must be the only CARICOM member state where this obscenity continues to occur. This cannot be normal in any way, and points to an unbelievable absurdity of obscene proportions.
Any central government, that refuses to assist the municipality of its capital city to garner its rightful share of taxes, especially from those among the business category who are numbered among its known supporters, and financiers, but are also among the numerous defaulters, are just as guilty as those who refuse to pay. Further, the PPP/C must be told that its rabid attempts at subjugating the Mayor must cease.