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I do not owe City Hall this figure

Nov 03, 2013 Letters

Dear Editor,
I read in your issue of Kaieteur News of Sunday October 27, 2013 under the caption — “Property Holdings Inc. headed by Brassington owes City Hall $$M”, that City Council Llewellyn John who is said to be supportive of Sooba owes City Hall $7M. This is incorrect.
My account with the Municipality has been the subject of dispute over the payment of sums amounting to $2.4M several years ago by cheques and money orders which were encashed by the Municipality, but for which no receipts were issued, and erroneous allocations to interest of moneys which were sent to them for satisfaction of their current rate demand notices which are provided for under Part 1V of the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01.
Added to this, they made an assessment wholly at commercial rate on a property of which one half only was used for commercial purposes and the other half for residential purposes.
Regrettably, although the law provides for recourse to the Valuation Rating Appeal Panel under The Valuation for Rating Purposes Act, Chap. 28:04, the latter panel was not operating whereby the challenge to the Assessment made by the Municipality based on the submissions of the Chief Valuation Officer could have been pursued.
Assessments of taxpayers’ liability are matters available for public scrutiny of the Assessment Book by law, and the Municipal and District Councils Act Chapter 28:01 and the Valuation for Rating Purposes Act, Chapter 28:04 provide ample machinery whereby complaints against the assessments entered in the Assessment Book can be addressed, if the machinery were in operation, but such remedies have not been in operation for several years.
My Assessment number in the Assessment Book of the Municipality is No.33 page 186; the valuation is $112,500.00 and the rates charged thereon is $281,250.00 (two hundred and eighty-one thousand, two hundred and fifty dollars) annually.
By comparison on the same page 186 Assessment No. 35 of the Government of Guyana as Guyana Police Headquarters Manget – Sendall Place is assessed at $437,350.00 (four hundred and thirty seven thousand, three hundred and fifty dollars).
On the next page 186 the Ministry of Home Affairs Assessment No. 24 — 51/2 of 5 and 6 Croal Street is assessed at $307,450.00 (three hundred and seven thousand, four hundred and fifty dollars).
Rates are calculated on a percentage of valuation in the Assessment Book, and this is stilrahs regards the existing assessments in the Assessment Book.
I have never sought or never have been granted any waiver as I am of the view that the law does not allow for waiver of amounts payable by tax payers, though there are provisions in law whereby time can be granted to make ie payments
There are provisions for exemption from rates in the few specific circumstances set out in the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01.
I wish to make it quite clear that I am still supportive of Carol Sooba —— the Town Clerk in her efforts to recover moneys for the Municipality, inasmuch as I believe that all, be they private persons, Government or semi – government institutions should pay their taxes.
C.M.Llewellyn John

 

 

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