THE Mayor and City Council has initiated legal proceedings to recover outstanding property rates against five companies.

The companies are: Continental Agency, located at 12, West Ruimveldt Industrial Site; Ashmins Trading Company, 43-47 Werk-en-Rust; Georgetown Fisherman Corporations, Meadow Brook/Houston; Milk Plant, 1, Cowan Street, Kingston and Vernan Garraway (Shoppers Paradise) 104, Regent Street, Lacytown.

In a release, City Hall said the aforementioned properties owe the Council in excess of $1B in outstanding rates, inclusive of interest. In addition, City Hall said a number of corporations and companies have been undervaluing their properties; they have been paying less than the required amounts for those properties, which are situated within the city of Georgetown. Some corporations continue to pay residential rates on properties, while operating massive commercial activities, using those properties of which council is concerned.

“The city council is contemplating ways of addressing this increasingly worrying practice of some businesses as a matter of urgency. Council needs all of its monies to provide vital municipal services to citizens in local communities. These include: garbage collection and disposal, construction and maintenance of roads, drains, street lights, markets, parks and open green spaces, cemeteries, public health and environmental services, enforcement of the city’s by-laws,” the release stated.

According to City Hall, these services are necessary to secure the integrity and general environment of the city of Georgetown.

“The one that is particularly important to us at this point in time, in the context to good environmental management and governance, is the collection and disposal of garbage collection. The cost to provide this service is more than forty eight million dollars ($48M) a month.”

The collection and disposal of garbage in the city is becoming increasingly expensive due to a number of reasons, including changing demographics, climate change and global warming, change of consumption, consumerism, and changes in the type of garbage generated by local commercial activities.

“The council is appealing to all property owners to settle their accounts with the council. Those who are experiencing financial difficulties can feel free to come in and talk with the trained staff at the City Treasurer’s Department. The Mayor and City Council remains committed to delivering to all citizens a city that is safe, healthy and prosperous.”