– to use parate execution to seize, sell properties from early next week

IN a desperate move to rake in revenue for the Georgetown municipality, the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) will be pursuing parate execution, allowing them to seize and sell property for the rates and taxes due in accordance with the Municipal and District Councils Act.Public Relations Officer Debra Lewis, in a press release, said that City Hall has started an “intense” campaign to collect outstanding rates owed by property owners and beginning early next week, Town Clerk Royston King with the assistance of the courts would use parate execution (a debt-recovery process outside the normal law) to collect outstanding sums owed by defaulting property owners, who are not paying their property rates.

According to the release, “Four properties within the city collectively owe the Council in excess of $300M, notwithstanding the fact that the Council has exercised patience with defaulters by granting three months of amnesty during 2016.
“Also, the Council had encouraged defaulters to utilise the payment plan provided. Still, many businesses have not used the opportunity provided them. This can no longer continue, since this is unfair to those citizens who honour their civic obligation to the Council in a very timely manner.”

The Georgetown municipality said it continues to provide critical services to the citizenry, which include collection and disposal of waste, cleaning and desilting of drains and canals, street lighting, and public health services.

JUDGMENT IN COURT

“Recently, the Council was granted judgment in the court against over 14 property owners. A few of them came to the municipality with their lawyers to settle their accounts, while there are those who have not contacted the Council. Therefore, the Town Clerk is left with no other alternative but to implement parate execution to collect outstanding sums owed,” Lewis explained.