Central Govt. owes City Council over $13B – Mayor Narine

Jun 14, 2023 News

Kaieteur News – Outgoing Mayor of Georgetown Pandit Ubraj Narine on Tuesday disclosed that the central government owes the Georgetown City Council over $13B in rates and taxes.

City mayor, Ubraj Narine

During a press conference at his office, Narine accused the government of “stifling” the work of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) and dispelled government statements that suggest that the Council’s has mismanaged its resources.

Narine questioned how the Council is expected to function when government agencies are not paying their rates and taxes.

“The PAHO (Pan American Health Organization) building that PAHO is housed on owes Council $200 and something million Guyana dollars. That building comes under the Ministry of Health, no taxes on PAHO but the ministry ought to pay that taxes,” Mayor Narine said.

He continued: “Transport and Harbour at the Ministry of Public Works owe this Council $100 and something million dollars. If we get out money, the Council will be able to function. The Council will be able to do much more in the city.”

In a recent statement, Mayor Narine had said that the current administration has been strangling Georgetown.

According to him, in 2020, the Council got zero subvention while budgetary allocation was $10 million for that year. He said in 2021, 2022 and 2023, the subvention was $30 million.

“How can such a paltry, pitiful sum of money maintain this country’s capital city – a city with a population of some 355,000 residents and visitors, in an area of 70 square kilometers?” Narine had questioned.

The Mayor disclosed that the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) owes the Council about $10 billion while noting too that it has refused to clear its account.

Also, Narine said the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) is among other agencies that also owe the Council large sums of money.

As a result, the Mayor said, “The Government of Guyana has neglected its responsibility to pay taxes owed to the Council…”

He highlighted that taxes play a vital role in sustaining the function and development of a City. “The revenue generated from taxes is crucial in supporting essential public services such as infrastructure development, health care and public safety,” the Mayor continued.

He explained that the non-payment of taxes hampers and stifle the City Council’s ability to provide fundamental services.

Moreover, the Mayor highlighted that despite the challenges faced; M&CC was able to significantly lower its $5 billion debt.

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City Mayor, Government, Mayor of Georgetown, Pandit, Ubraj Narine

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