RDC told…
CHAIRMAN of the Local Government and Hinterland Sub-Committee of the Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) Regional Democratic Council (RDC), Mr. Pooran Persaud, has reported that rice farmers owe $156.4M to Anna Regina Town Council.
He told the RDC Tuesday statutory meeting that the money is owed as arrears rates and taxes for cultivated areas within the township, from Walton Hall to Three Friends on Essequibo Coast.
Persaud, who presented a report on the Local Government, Hinterland Affairs and Co-ops departments, said officers of the Town Council should be more proactive in the collection of revenue.
According to him, the debts have been outstanding for several years while, every year, Government is spending hundreds of millions of dollars to construct culverts, bridges and desilt drainage and irrigation (D&I) canals and build dams in the rice growing areas.
Persaud said farmers are deriving benefits from Government D&I projects but some of them are reluctant to pay for the services rendered.
He also criticised the poor garnering of rates and taxes, for this year, by the municipality and the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs).
Persaud said officers of the local authorities must go out and collect the sums owing and, simultaneously, interact with residents on development and problems affecting their communities.
He said citizens in the residential areas of Anna Regina town owe $2.9M arrears rates and taxes but a new valuation exercise should be undertaken in the five NDCs, too, so that more revenue can be collected to boost the delivery of social services.
Persaud said the rate of construction of new buildings has increased but the rates and taxes have remained the same for many years but residents still expect better services from the local government bodies.