THE Georgetown City Council is preparing to launch a campaign in an effort to recover some $8.4 billion from defaulting taxpayers with the aim to improve the council’s financial position.

During an interview with this publication, City Treasurer John Douglas said that the City Council made it clear that the council intends to launch a campaign in an effort to recover the much-needed funds to put the council in a strong financial position.
The council has over the years had issues with ensuring that its staffers and contract workers are paid adequately and promptly.

Thus, Douglas made the point that the council will be moblising a team from the City Treasurer’s Department, the City Constabulary Department and the City Engineer’s Department who will target specific areas to execute collection of revenues.

The city treasurer also pointed out that the campaign is geared to sensitise and give information to the taxpayers, as it relates to the payment system set out by the council.
Mr Douglas gave the assurance that the Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine, has been in touch with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) along with the Private Sector Commission (PSC) to assist the council in garnering funds through the establishment of agreements.

The treasurer also indicated that the Council wants to work with the credit bureau to ensure that taxpayers are in compliance with the urgent payment of their taxes to the council.

While the council continues to urge that ratepayers up their taxes, the treasurer made it clear that defaulters will be dealt the full force of the law.

In view of the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into the City Council, the city treasurer says that the council will put new measures in place to properly account for financial statements to ensure that accountability, transparency and integrity are achieved in exchange for payment of taxes and provision of services by the City Council.

With the Establishment of a Tender Committee, the Georgetown City Council intends to come clean with its new accounting mechanisms and procedures.

During a recent press conference, Mayor Ubraj Narine announced that there are over 140 “high end” businesses in the city that owe billions in taxes to the municipality. He said the non-payment of the taxes is hurting the council and affecting its work.

The GCCI said it must remind the mayor that businesses are the life blood of the city as they create employment and economic activity and there is a need for more partnerships.
For several years, the Georgetown City Council and a number of mayors have complained about the business community failing to meet its tax obligations to the city.

Despite efforts to ease the payments through various initiatives, the number of defaulters and the money owed continue to climb.

The campaign will commence shortly.