City Mayor defends Royston King in Beacon Foundation saga

Apr 21, 2014 News

Georgetown Mayor, Hamilton Green has come to the defence of Public Relations Officer, Royston King stating that the decision to exempt rates and taxes payment from the well known non-governmental, not for profit Beacon Foundation was a decision “taken in principle” by the Mayor and City Council as provided by the Constitution.

City Hall’s PRO Royston King

Mayor Green told Kaieteur News that the matter which is now being raised to show that King would have exempted the organization without the Council’s authority, has no weight since the matter was brought before the Council and was decided upon.
King is being accused of signing off some $36 million in rates and taxes for the Beacon Foundation without the Council’s authority and ahead of his short-lived Town Clerk appointment which came to be in July 2012. King had acted in the position for no more than three days. He was chosen by the Council to replace former Town Clerk Yonette Pluck, but the appointment was cut short when then Local Government Minister, Ganga Persuad removed King and imposed the current Town Clerk (Ag) Carol Sooba.
Mayor Green said that, constitutionally, City Hall can exempt some orgainsations, which fall in a certain category, from paying rates and taxes.
“I do not understand the fuss,” Green said before explaining that the law clearly provides that certain agencies, including educational, religious, non-profit among others, can be exempted from the payment of rates and taxes.
Kaieteur News understands however, that a legal challenge by the Council’s Administration was brought against Beacon’s exemption.
In its defence, the agency (Beacon) revealed the exemption notice which was signed by King.
Mayor Green has reiterated that there is nothing to be alarmed about since the Foundation falls within the requirements to have their rates and taxes exempted.
Under Section 213 and 214 of the Municipal and Districts Council Act Chapter 28:01, the Council is legally empowered to exempt rates and charges since the Act says that no rates shall be levied against properties for the sole use of public worship, education, burial or cremation, etc.

Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green

Section 214 speaks to organizations which are solely used for advancement of religion, education, health, other social developments and that are not-for-profit.
Beacon Foundation is a non-governmental, not-for- profit organization that offers social welfare services.
Mayor Green has however dismissed what he said is the attempt by the Minister of Local Government Minister and the Town Clerk to distract attention from the real issues at hand. He said this matter is to overshadow the fact that the Town Clerk would have taken half a million dollars for her own benefit, while she continues to make decisions against and without Council’s authority.
Green said that the Commissioner of Police has already been called in on Sooba’s illegal acquisition of Council funds for her personal use.