Latest update September 4th, 2026 10:24 AM
Royston King threatens Chronicle with libel suit
City Hall’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Royston King, has threatened legal action against state-owned Guyana
City Hall’s PRO
Royston King
Chronicle over a number of misleading articles involving an issue which King says has already been dealt with at the level of the Council and the relevant executives.
King told Kaieteur News that it has become necessary to address the issue of rates and taxes exemption to Beacon Foundation since the matter “continues to be used as a political ploy”. He told the publication that despite the matter being clarified by Head of the Municipality, Mayor Hamilton Green, the state newspaper continues to insinuate illegalities in a letter to the charity organization.
The most recent article was published last week King said, when the Chronicle stated that the police will investigate King’s actions with the Beacon Foundation.
Interestingly, the PRO stated, the waiver of rates and taxes for Durbana Square public open space, Lamaha Gardens, which was never discussed or decided upon by the Council, nor Ms. Carol Sooba’s unauthorized use of $500,000 of rate payers’ money, from the City Treasury, for her personal benefit have not been given similar prominence.
The police and the Auditor General have maintained a sluggish posture towards any reports of misappropriation or illegal act performed by the acting Town Clerk (Ag) Carol Sooba. The state paper, he charged, reports on selective matters involving the Council.
King noted, however, that during his short time as acting Town Clerk a request for rates and taxes exemption was made by Beacon Foundation.
Under the Municipal and District Councils Act, charitable organisations can be exempt from property rates. At section 212, the law states that the council shall have power to exempt from liability to pay rates either wholly or in part, in respect of the properties listed for religious, educational or social welfare, not with a view to profit.
Also, properties used for open air games, athletic sports; occupied by a club, society or other not-for-profit organizations and property used for hospitals, dispensary or public health institution can also be exempted.
“Beacon Foundation is a charitable organization. Documents for Beacon Foundation including an official valuation document stated that the property is being used for charitable purposes. It is an incorporated non-profit company which provides an outpatient hospice service across Guyana with meals and temporary shelter.”
Having perused the documents and the request by that organization, King said he wrote to state specifically, that Beacon qualified for an exemption.
After providing this newspaper with the letter to the organization, King noted that the last sentence stated that “the Council will have no objection” meaning that Beacon was advised of their entitlement which had not yet been granted.
King continued that the Mayor and City Council has a policy that before defaulters are taken to court, a list should be sent for final scrutiny since the Municipality was embarrassed on several occasions for taking people to court who had already paid their rates.
“However, Ms. Sooba does not supply the Mayor and Councillors with any such list. Instead, she rushes to court with selected defaulters including Beacon Foundation, Mayor Hamilton Green, Kaieteur News and Christopher Ram, ignoring decisions made by successive council meetings on some of the very matters that are before the courts.”
“Therefore, when Beacon Foundation was taken to court, without the knowledge of the Council, and my letter was produced by that organization, it was immediately seized upon and used by Ms. Sooba and others to attempt to discredit me.”
The issue, King pointed out was discussed several times at statutory meetings of Council and it had approved the exemption for Beacon foundation in principle. All that was needed was for Beacon to submit the appropriate documents.
King said he is currently discussing his rights with his attorney.
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