… should take advantage of  extended amnesty
The Mayor and City Council is urging all rate-payers to use the extension of the amnesty on all interest to promptly settle their accounts with the city.
Amnesty is a period in which the Council grants a waiver on all interest on rates; property-owners are required to pay only the demand on their account. However, home-owners must pay their accounts in full to benefit from the amnesty. The amnesty has been extended from November 30 to December 15, 2010.
From October 15, 2010 to date, the Council has experienced a 40% increase in inflows in its treasury. This has allowed the Council to meet some of its financial obligations to
its employees and contractors.
The Council is appreciative of those citizens who came in and cleared the debts, according to a press statement from the M&CC.
“Disappointingly, there are still many defaulters, who have not yet settled their accounts. Council finds it difficult to understand why, inspite of this gesture of goodwill on
its part, property-owners, including quite a few big businesses, have not made sufficient effort to pay their rates to the city.
“Council is of the view that all businesses should see their paying of general rates as their social responsibility to the city. Businesses operate in local communities based on
certain needs. They benefit from the support of these communities. “However, these communities have infrastructural, social and other environmental needs, which, if not met, can
create an unstable and unhealthy environment. This would affect the operations of corporations and impact negatively on the lives of residents.
“The Georgetown municipality has the statutory responsibility to take care of those community needs, by providing certain essential services and facilities.  These include:
drainage, roads, environmental and public health services, markets, solid waste management, and law enforcement. However, its ability to fulfill this responsibility depends
heavily on money.
“One source of money for the Council is general rates on all properties within the precincts of the city. It is a rate that is levied on private properties for such community
and municipal services within the council area. Therefore, when businesses, which are likely to have a greater demand on municipal services and facilities, neglect or refuse to
pay their rates, they  behave unethically and seriously hinder the Council from meeting the expectations of citizens. This would affect the development of the very local
communities in which these businesses exist. Essentially, this is why the Council continues to appeal to all businesses to pay their rate to the city of Georgetown.
“Finally, Council has observed that it is the practice of defaulters to wait until the last few days of the amnesty to make their payments. Council is advising rate-payers not
to be caught in the rush; they should come in now and settle their accounts. “Those, who are still experiencing difficulties to pay, should make urgent contact with the City
Treasurer at telephone number: 2261228 or 2254933. All home-owners should take full advantage of this facility and pay their rates.