THE Mayor and City Council of Georgetown (M&CC) has decided to reduce the container fee from $25,000 to $5,000, a release from City Hall revealed Monday.According to the release, a meeting was held on August 5, between the Mayor and City Council, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and the Private Sector Commission (PSC) to address the issue.

It was noted that the reduction is an interim measure and the fee will be collected at the source, at the various ports and wharves, effective August 01, 2016.

The release stated that discussions were also held on the possible implementation of per tonnage per cargo fee for all cargo within vehicles of specific type of weights traversing the streets of the City.

“The Private Sector representatives have also indicated their interest in forming a Tripartite Committee between the government of Guyana, The Mayor and Councillors of the city of Georgetown and the Private Sector Commission to engage in continued discussions on other initiatives and the institutionalising a solid partnership to develop and modernise Georgetown. This was agreed by all parties involved. The Committee will be in place by August 15, 2016,” the release further noted.

The $25,000 container fee which City Hall sought to implement attracted much criticism from members of the business community and the PSC. Some businessmen had also resorted to the courts, accusing the M&CC of illegally implementing such a fee. The court had ruled in favour of the businessmen.

City Hall had said that the money is needed to repair roads, which the containers have damaged over the years.

Meanwhile, according to the release, the August 05 meeting with the private sector representatives was held in an atmosphere of understanding and cooperation.

“The Council wishes to advise that the collection of container fee and tonnage fee are instituted by invoking section 274 (h) in conjunction with section 272 of the Municipal and District Council’s Act, Chapter 28:01.”