Big businesses still defaulting despite amnesty extension - King

Big businesses still defaulting despite amnesty extension – King

Dec 06, 2010 News

Although City Hall announced an extension to its amnesty offer last week, there are still many defaulters that are yet to settle their accounts. This is according to Public Relations Officer, Royston King, who revealed that it is very disappointing that some property owners continue to shirk their responsibility.
“Council finds it difficult to understand why, in spite of this gesture of goodwill on its part, property owners, including quite a few big businesses, have not made sufficient efforts to pay their rates to the city,” said King.
Government and several reputable businesses have been listed among the defaulters that are yet to fully honour their civic obligation with the Municipality. And according to information emanating from the Municipality, Central Government owes in excess of $30M, representing the payment of rates and taxes for the last quarter of this year, which was due and payable on October 30 last.
It was since the commencement of last month that it was recognised that the Municipality was facing a near $400M shortfall, a state-of-affairs which prompted the Municipality to engage the amnesty programme, aimed at enticing defaulting rate payers to pay up without the added stress of paying accumulated interest.
Council is of the view, King disclosed, that all businesses should see their paying of general rates as their social responsibility to the city, adding that businesses operate in local communities based on certain needs. As such, King noted that they undoubtedly benefit from the support of these communities. These communities, he noted, have infrastructural, social and other environmental needs, which if not met can create an unstable and unhealthy environment. And this, he asserted, could affect the operations of corporations and impact negatively on the lives of residents.
King revealed that the Georgetown Municipality has the statutory responsibility to take care of those community needs, by providing certain essential services and facilities. And among these are drainage, roads, environmental and public health services, markets, solid waste management, and law enforcement. However, its ability to fulfill this responsibility depends heavily on money, he added.
One source of money for the Council is general rates on all properties within the precincts of the city. It is a rate that is levied on private properties for such community and municipal services within the Council area.
Therefore, when businesses, which are likely to have a greater demand on municipal services and facilities, neglect or refuse to pay their rates they behave unethical and seriously hinder the Council from meeting the expectations of citizens, King insisted. And this state-of-affairs, he noted, could affect the development of the very local communities in which these businesses exist. Essentially, this is why the Council continues to appeal to all businesses to pay up their rates and taxes, King said.
Additionally, he revealed that the Council has observed that it is the practice of some defaulters to wait until the last few days of the amnesty to make their payments.
Amnesty is a period in which the Council grants a waiver on all interest on rates. Property owners are required to pay only the demand on their account. However, homeowners must pay their accounts in full to benefit from the amnesty.
The recent amnesty offer had commenced on October 15 last and was set to come to an end on November 30 last. The offer has since been extended from November 30 to December 15, 2010. From October 15, 2010 to date the Council has experienced a 40 percent increase in inflows in its treasury, King disclosed. “This has allowed the Council to meet some of its financial obligations to its employees and contractors. The Council is appreciative of those citizens who came in and cleared their debts.”
In the meantime, Council is advising ratepayers not to be caught in the rush. However, those who may encounter difficulties to pay should make urgent contact with the City Treasurer’s Department on telephone numbers: 226-1228 or 2254933, King noted, even as he urged that all defaulting property owners should take full advantage of the amnesty.

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Big businesses still defaulting despite amnesty extension – King

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