Over three billion dollars owed to the City Council

Jul 07, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
The Mayor and Councilors of the City of Georgetown wishes to urge rate -payers to ensure that their accounts are up to date. The records of the Council reveled that some rate-payers have not honoured their civic obligation in excess of five years. Currently, there is 3.1 billion dollars outstanding in rates owed to the Georgetown Municipality by rate- payers.
General Rates accounts for approximately 81% of the total revenue of the Council’s income. The short fall in rates collected has seriously affected the capacity of the Council to provide the requisite services in a timely manner, while the demand for these services are steadily increasing. The services provided include: cleaning of drains, road repairs, street lighting, collection of garbage, and maintenance of parks and gardens. The fact remains that monies are necessary to provide these services.
The Municipality has observed that some ratepayers are eluding the system when properties are bought and sold. These properties are transferred from one owner to another without the rates cleared off. In light of this fact, the Council is calling on lending institutions to ensure that when granting loans to property owners that a certificate of compliances is presented. Also please be advised that when granting loans to property owners, a certificate of compliance should be obtained from the Mayor and City Council.Also please be advised that when granting loans to property owners, a certificate of compliance should be obtained from the Mayor and City Council. Before a certificate of compliance is issued by the Council outstanding rates must be cleared off. The Council would be working with other Institutions to put an end to this practice.
The Council wishes to remind rate-payers that the Council has implemented a payment plan to assist rate- payer who are experiencing financial challenges.
According to the Municipal and District Councils Act 28:01:
· No transport shall be passed for any parcel of land in a council area, except upon production to the Register of Deeds or Judge of a certificate signed by the clerk of the council that the provisions of section 300 will not thereby be contravened.
· Neither the Official Receiver nor the Registrar may sell any portion of a lot less than a whole lot unless he is first supplied with the certificate of the clerk, which shall be supplied to the Registrar by the judgment creditor.
· Any person desiring to sell or purchase any plot within a council area may at any time obtain a certificate of the clerk thereof.
Debra Lewis
Public Relations Officer

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