The container fee dilemma

Dear Editor,

DOES the Municipal Act enable the M&CC to erect barricades without public notification of the public and approval from the Guyana Police Force Traffic Department and the Ministries of Public Security, Public Infrastructure and Communities?Was the Shipping Association invited to dialogue with the M&CC pertaining to the imposition of the controversial $25,000 container fee and additional charges thereafter?

Editor, if the answers are emphatically no in relation to the aforementioned — and from all indication the answers are no -– then, like the proverbial ostrich that continues to bury its head in the sand while, in our local idiom, “leaving its backside exposed”, the kick the M&CC received is deservingly justifiable, since its action constitutes “displaying one’s level of conceitedness as a badge of honour; massaging one’s ego publicly, and being confrontational rather than consultative”.

Local business magnate Roy Beepat has penned a missive entitled “There should be public-private cooperation on national issues such as the container tax” (S.N. 20.07.16). Definitely sir, apart from being commendable, you have simplified the issue by stating that “a $25,000 fee on containers will result in far less than a 0.05% increase in import costs, a very inconsequential cost”.

Can it be ascertained whether the M&CC’s Finance Committee was aware of this factor? Sir, from all indications it may not be so, since no public disclosure was made and no annual income projected.

Of course I would agree that there must be “public-private consultations ahead of cooperation on national issues”. Officials from the GRA, Ministries of Finance, Public Infrastructure, Communities, the Private Sector and the Manufacturing and Shipping Associations should have all sat down to brainstorm the issue and hold meaningful discussion on the impending levy of the container tax.

At a first glance, the Shipping Association could have provided the relevant figures to indicate how many containers are brought in annually. Thereafter, the elementary math could have been done (amt. of containers x $25,000 + additional days x $5,000); with the GRA submitting its figures for taxation, Public Infrastructure for the cost per sq. mile of road rehabilitation/maintenance; and both the PSC and GMA could, in a unified voice, have indicated if a reduced cost was reasonable and whether businesses and consumers would have been adversely affected. The Finance Ministry’s contribution would have been towards stimulating economic growth.

This is a timely reminder to the M&CC Finance Committee: The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Can someone in authority say whether a comprehensive study relative to roads assessment had been done by a competent individual or firm? Is there a functioning Road Maintenance Unit in the M&CC?

Surely, the previous adversities the “fabulous four” of the City Council faced with the “parking meter” scenario should have at least provided a learning lesson; but, from all indications, this isn’t so! As a consequence, it’s back to square one: confrontation instead of consultation.

Finally, at what juncture would there be a collaborative effort between the M&CC and the Public Infrastructure Ministry in redesigning the network of roads for upgrading to sustain the daily additional tonnage by traversing container trailers, haulers and low-bed trailers of heavy duty machinery? Does the M&CC have the engineering and technical capability that today’s modernization demands?

By the way, why were only John Fernandes and Muneshwer’s wharves targeted for the erection of barricades that prevented container trucks from leaving? What of GNIC, DSL and others? Would a surcharge be implemented on heavy duty fuel carriers and sand trucks?
Respectfully yours,
LESTER SEALEY

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp
All our printed editions are available online
emblem3
Subscribe to the Guyana Chronicle.
Sign up to receive news and updates.
We respect your privacy.