Plan to increase property taxes is anti-business

Oct 21, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
The time has come for citizens of all walks of life of our capital city to stand up against the tyranny of the City Council and in solidarity with the poor, the weak and the vulnerable who are being bullied against.
Let us begin with the vendors who for years were exploited by the City Constabulary with daily demands for bribes, and who now face an onslaught from the City Council. How could the Council be allowed to ignore the union that represents the welfare of these small business men and women? How could it be allowed to remove, relocate and in many instances prevent them from earning an honest living, in such a whimsical manner? These are the very persons it once used to harass Carol Sooba, as part of its Machiavellian plan to have her removed so that her successor could get the job, which he finds very lucrative.
How could they be allowed to suffer the workers each and every month with the late payment of wages and salaries? Which is due to the fact that they misuse Council’s financial resources by contracting out every conceivable service all in their own interest, as it is well known that these contracts are an example of the worst type of corruption, venality and fraud. The Local Government Officers Union ought to be ashamed of themselves for sitting quietly every month and not raising a finger against a cruel municipal administration, whilst their members struggle on a monthly basis to pay their electricity and water bills, their rents and mortgages, to buy food and to send their children to school, to pay for transportation. Additionally, one should not forget the appalling physical conditions under which they are forced to work, including dilapidated buildings with poor ventilation and lighting, no tools, no supplies, old furniture etc. It should be noted that these senior officers who suffer those under their charge, could not care less for their monthly salaries as their bread is well buttered and they occupy very posh offices with every conceivable amenity.
The parking meter contract which they refuse to shelve, even in spite of the concerns expressed by the Ministry of Communities and the Attorney General’s Chambers, and the resounding outcry against it by citizens and groups from every facet of society, shall be the death blow businesses in Georgetown already on their knees due to the economic slowdown in the country. This along with the container tax, the plan to increase property taxes next year, etc is anti-business, anti-citizen and designed to fill the pockets of a few whilst the masses are made to pay.
How could the Council say with straight faces that they have the city at heart? How could they sleep at night knowing that they are destroying Georgetown while creating conditions through which they will benefit? How will the city ever recover from the wanton plundering of its financial and other resources?
Debra Gibson

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