Dear Editor,
The City Council wishes to advise all property owners that the amnesty offered on interest on rates will expire on December 31, 2016. Some property owners have not utilized this facility offered to citizens. The council is not likely to offer this facility in 2017. Rather, it would be implementing an aggressive debt collection drive. This will include initiating and following up legal proceedings against defaulters and effecting summary jurisdiction (petty debt laws) parate execution and distraint laws articulated in the Municipal and District Council Act sections 219 & 220.
It must be noted that the response of the business community has been less than favourable during the five-week period. Further, 85% of the monies collected came from residential property owners. We thank those property owners who honour their civic obligations and those who made use of the facility. The council looks forward to providing vital municipal services to local communities.
For the year 2016, the council had gained judgement against several commercial property owners which include the proprietors of Ashmins Store, Guyana Fisheries, Jaikarran and Sons, Shoppers Paradise, and the building which accommodated the Milk Plant in Kingston.
The council will pursue these and other property owners to recover the large outstanding sums owed.
Recently, Town Clerk Royston King had written the Head of the Private Sector Commission seeking the support of that body in the council’s effort to collect property rates owed by businesses.
Yours faithfully,
Debra Lewis
Public Relations Officer
