Dear Editor,
I wish to once again demystify some misleading content shared by the Mayor of Georgetown, Mr. Alfred Mentore, and published by Stabroek News on September 2, 2024 – The 25% institutional rate discussed and approved by the Georgetown City Council has nothing to do with arrears. In a letter responding to myself and Councillor De Armas, His Worship the Mayor, Alfred Mentore, has inadvertently raised a number of issues and questions that should be posed to him:
1. Why has he failed to address the monies owed to City Hall by Congress Place?
2. Why did he not inform the current Council that the policy had already been approved years ago?
3. If the policy was approved and gazetted, why was it not implemented in its entirety but was re-tabled for approval once again?
4. Where in this new policy suggests institutional rate for non-governmental organizations (NGOs)?
In typical Alfred Mentore fashion, he shifts blame without confronting or addressing the core issues. In my letter published on August 31st in the Stabroek News, I did not mention a reduction in arrears, but rather what is “owed,” which includes both demand and arrears. Hence, my subject line stated, “Georgetown Chief Citizen Needs to Provide Answers,” as reported in all other news outlets, although this was altered by Stabroek News.
Citizens should know that the institutional rate policy is not a new concept; it is applied to institutions across the country, guided by Section 214 of the Municipal and District Councils Act, which speaks to the Council’s ability to exempt rates either wholly or in part for hospitals or public health institutions, properties used for the purposes of open-air games or athletic sports occupied by a club, and properties used for the advancement of religion, education, and social welfare. However, the inclusion of political parties is something that was recently created by His Worship under the pretext of Section 214 of Chapter 28:01.
It should be made clear that PPP/C Councillors only speak to facts and can always provide evidence to support any claims made. Our only method of bringing unjust, shameful, hypocritical, and self-centered policies or decisions to light is through the media, as we are often trampled on by being outvoted when we disagree with a particular policy or decision. If this is considered ‘grandstanding,’ we will continue to update the citizens about any shameful decisions passed or approved by the majority.
The citizens of Georgetown are aware of the substantial amounts owed to government institutions by M&CC, including GRA, GWI, and GPL. As I mentioned before, PAYE is typically deducted from staff salaries but is not remitted to GRA, thus constituting a criminal act. Furthermore, the fiscal transfer act that Mr. Mentore referenced is not applicable to M&CC due to a failure to comply with the most basic requirements.
While I understand His Worship, it must be noted that incentives, tax breaks, and other mechanisms drive economic growth by encouraging private sector development, which in turn provides more job opportunities for our citizens. This principle is quite straightforward, Mr. Mayor. As PPP/C Councillors, we remain open to any dialogue that is people-centered, development-oriented, and solution-based, all in the interest of addressing the needs of the citizens of Georgetown.
Sincerely,
Steven Jacobs
Councillor
Mayor and City of Georgetown
