THE Private Sector Commission (PSC) has sought to register its concerns regarding harassment and bullyism faced by the business community by the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC). These concerns, which were expressed in a statement issued by the PSC on Friday, comes just a few days after Town Clerk of the M&CC, Royston King, imposed a $25,000 fee for shipping containers moving around the city. However, this move has been rubbished by the commission, which said it was “nonsense.”
“The Private Sector Commission is increasingly concerned at the manifest approach of the Mayor and City Council to making decisions with regard to the administration of the municipality and, in particular, the raising of revenue, which negatively impact on the business community and the citizens of Georgetown, in isolation from public consultation and without due process within the law,” the statement noted.
On July 19, King directed his officers and the Constabulary to barricade the entrances of a number of shipping wharfs in the city, preventing the movement of vehicles transporting containers on the streets. And according to the PSC, it appears that this show of force was with the expressed intention of enforcing a decision of the Council to impose a G$25,000 fee on the consignees of cargo being transported in containers.
On being alerted to what can only be described as “official harassment” of members of the business community to bully them into paying the fee, the PSC said it obtained legal advice on the issue and the imposition of the fee was said to be unlawful.
As such, the commission on Wednesday invited King to a meeting with its Council and members of the Shipping Association to which he readily consented.
The PSC said the meeting facilitated a frank, open and generally informative exchange of views on the matter. The body said it looks forward to further discussions on the matter, hopefully resulting in a sensible and professional resolution reflecting the mutual interests of the business community, citizens and the municipality.
According to the commission, it fully recognises that the recently elected council faces a significant challenge in restoring the discipline essential to the good order and sound administration of the city and that they are to be credited with the visible progress made in a relatively short time. Additionally, acknowledge that the city requires sufficient revenue to be run efficiently, as was pointed out by the city council.
However, the Commission sought to remind the Council that the business sector and residents of the city are its means of revenue and that partnership and consultation are infinitely preferable to confrontation and unlawful behaviour in the name of revenue collection.
Just last month,the PSC had reason to express the sector’s concern over the controversy which has arisen over the M&CC’s attempt to impose a contract to install parking meters without due transparency and public consultation.