-warns of legal consequences, says move is politically driven, lacks parliamentary approval

ATTORNEY General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC, has lashed out against Mayor Alfred Mentore and APNU+AFC-aligned councillors of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council for what he describes as a blatantly illegal attempt to waive interest on outstanding property taxes, linking the move to a politically motivated scheme aimed at enriching a select few aligned with the opposition.

Speaking during his weekly programme ‘Issues in the News’, on Tuesday, Nandlall made it clear that the Council, APNU+AFC-aligned M&CC has no legal authority to implement any such waiver.

“It is the expressed intention of the Georgetown Mayor and some of the councillors to promulgate a financial regulation by which they intend to waive interest on outstanding rates and taxes,” the AG said, stressing that such power rests solely with Parliament and not with the local council.

He explained that the Mayor and City Council is governed by the Municipal and District Councils Act, which authorises the imposition of interest on unpaid taxes at rates specified by Parliament.

Nandlall explained that there is no provision in the law that allows the M&CC to waive this interest, he said, adding that any attempt to do so would be unconstitutional and in breach of financial regulations.

“If Parliament wanted to give the council the authority to waive that interest, it would have specified so—along with the terms and conditions under which such waivers could occur. That has not been done,” Nandlall said.
He warned that any councillor who proceeds with the scheme could be held personally liable, along with any beneficiaries who may profit from the move.

“They will have to account for the monies involved. That is the law of Guyana,” the AG said firmly.
Nandlall went further to allege that the plan is part of a wider scheme to provide financial relief to certain wealthy individuals with long-standing arrears to the City Council.
“This is not being driven by any benevolent motive. This is a scheme to help a few selected persons who owe large amounts of money, including massive sums in interest.

“For all you know, promises have already been made and money already received as incentives to carry out this plan,” Nandlall said, as he questioned the motives behind the move.
He pointed to what he called the “duplicitous nature” of the APNU+AFC-aligned council, accusing it of engaging in political gimmickry and backdoor dealings while disregarding the rule of law.
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Sonia Parag, had also echoed these concerns, labelling the council’s actions as “unlawful and unauthorised.”

In a letter dated March 26, 2025, she cited the Municipal and District Councils Act, Cap. 28:01, which grants exclusive authority to make financial regulations to the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development.
“The law is unambiguous,” Parag wrote, referencing Section 146(1) of the Act: ‘The Minister may make financial regulations for controlling and managing financial business of councils.’

She criticised the Mayor for acting unilaterally without consulting her office and misrepresenting legal provisions.
Parag warned of legal consequences, stating that any unlawfully waived sums would be recovered through civil proceedings against the responsible parties and reported to the police for appropriate action.

Adding to the mounting criticism, PPP councillors within the M&CC have also rejected the unilateral move, calling it not only illegal but a deliberate political stunt aimed at misleading citizens.

Responding directly to a public letter by APNU councillor Lelon Saul, PPP councillor Steven Jacobs cited Section 146 of the Municipal and District Councils Act, which clearly states: “The Minister may make financial regulations for controlling and managing financial business of councils.”

“This section is unequivocal. Councillor Saul and Mayor Mentore were both challenged on the legality of this new policy, while it was explicitly stated that there were no objections to assisting citizens facing financial hardships, provided it is done within the confines of the law,” Jacobs said.

Jacobs further highlighted that the Council’s awareness campaign was already showing results, with over 400 delinquent property owners starting to pay their taxes earlier this year.

He said: “This blatant attempt to shift blame or to so compassionately appeal to the minister is nothing but duplicity, as this suggestion was already made in our statutory council meeting and, of course, [was] shot down by Mayor Mentore as he lamented ‘Executive Powers of the council.’

PPP councillor Alfonso De-Armas-Archbold added: “This is not a question of nuance – it is a question of transparency and accountability.”
He added that Georgetown is not facing a humanitarian crisis and labelled Saul’s defence as nothing more than political theatre.
“The Council could have applied for ministerial approval for a waiver programme…Instead, they opted for political grandstanding, using the citizens of Georgetown as pawns in their ill-conceived scheme,” he said.