VICE-CHAIRMAN of Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), Mr. Vishnu Samaroo has informed the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) that rates and taxes collected by the five Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and Anna Regina Town Council on Essequibo Coast was below 50 per cent in May.

He said the NDCs are not collecting revenue as proposed in their 2009 budgets and the poor collection is posing serious problems for them to provide essential services.

As such, the RDC is being pressured to ensure the delivery, Samaroo pointed out.

Regional Chairman, Mr. Alli Baksh, also speaking at a statutory RDC meeting, said NDCs need to intensify their financial operations and advocated for new valuation of properties, especially in the Charity area, where residents are not paying the Charity-Urasara local authority.

He said persons who are not meeting their obligations must be taken to Court.

Another Councillor, Mr. Cornel Damon supported the call for Court action to recover large sums of money owed to local authorities over the years.