THE cash-strapped Mayor and City Council (M&CC) will be moving to regain billions owed in rates and taxes from defaulting taxpayers. Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the M&CC, Debra Lewis said the council is seeking new ways to garner revenue and as such, defaulters will be taken to court.“So far 14 businesspersons were taken to court, and we are in the process of cracking down on others who owe millions in rates and taxes,” Lewis said.

To encourage the payment of taxes, the M&CC has devised a number of payment plans and negotiation systems to provide a reasonable breakdown of a sum which would not be strenuous, especially to low-income earners.

Recently, Town Clerk Royston King declared that the council had garnered over $300M from an interest-free rates and taxes amnesty for defaulting taxpayers; however others are yet to come forth with their payments.

Over the years, persons have been withholding their rates and taxes, causing the M&CC to stall projects such as the Merriman Mall rehabilitation project and the Stabroek and Kitty markets restoration due to lack of funds.

Despite this, the Town Clerk had promised that most of the projects will regain momentum within three months. As such, the PRO reiterated that the council will “spare no bones” in cracking down on defaulting taxpayers. [Navendra Seoraj]