The Bartica Town Council is pleading with residents and business owners to pay their rates and taxes as the fledgling municipality is “cash-strapped.”
Bartica was gazetted as Region Seven’s first town in October, 2015.
Chairman of the Finance Committee, Kenneth Williams related to Stabroek News on Friday that the council is owed over $9M for commercial and residential buildings. He pointed out that the figure has been accumulated since 2011 but the newly formed council is adamant about collecting the owed revenue since they have increased services and are currently strapped for cash.
“We are desperately seeking for the monies to be brought in because since we became a council we are strapped with increased services,” Williams pointed out, explaining that they started a garbage collection service which costs approximately $400,000 every month.
“We started drainage works not just because of the rains but because they were necessary. We have increased a bunch of services and our administration staff so we are seeking the residents and the businesses and all those who owe us to come in and pay us,” Williams added, pointing out that they desperately need for the debts to be repaid in order for the council to continue providing the services.
Williams pointed out that currently the rates and taxes for buildings are a “very small and miniscule amount for some people” and while the council is currently exploring the options to increase it, all of the buildings have to be re-valued.
“We care but we need this money. Citizens are benefitting now since we came in place and the costs to do these things are exorbitant and we know there has been a slowdown in the economy hence we are trying not to raise (the rates),” the man said, pointing out that some buildings are paying approximately $10,000 per year when they should be paying far more.
He said another reason why the council cannot raise the rates and taxes at the moment is because the buildings have not undergone valuations in a long time. “We have plans to reevaluate the buildings and we already spoke to the Ministry of Communities and they are advising us. There shouldn’t be any back debt because even some houses pay $3,000 per year,” the man said.
“We don’t want people to think we are going after them but they need to understand that we need the money,” he said, stating that the council is going to increase the sensitisation programme to ensure that the residents and business owners understand why they need the funds. He also added that while they don’t want to “go after anyone” if the situation keeps up they will have to take stern action against persons.
In addition to collecting their debts, Williams stated that the council has plans to increase local tourism and other partnerships with the business community. He pointed out that they will start leasing parts of the water front, install toll gates around the town for large trucks and create new advertising space.
In an invited comment, Mayor Gifford Marshall said, “All of Bartica responded with gratitude and excitement when our status as a Township was established subsequent to our coalition government taking office. Barticians showed their hope and expectations for a brighter future for all of us by participating in Local Government Elections and electing their Mayor and Town Council earlier this year,” he said, stating that the “great and sober burden” of fulfilling expectations and delivering results to benefit the citizens rests on the collective shoulder of the new municipal organization in Cuyuni/Mazaruni.
“While the commitment of central government, including His Excellency the President himself to Bartica is helpful: in order for Bartica to be truly developed at a rapid pace, Barticians would have to play their part in property tax contributions to fund development programmes in our Township,” he said, pointing out that it is not the aim of the council to place an unreasonable or unfair burden by applying excessively high tax rates, but to seek to establish a municipal tax regime that is fair.
“President Granger in his words on “capital towns” stated: Capital towns will eradicate the “colonial compound” mentality. It will instill a capital town mindset which emphasizes the role of towns in moving beyond providing traditional municipal services. The new emphasis should be on promoting business, driving economic development and giving leadership to our regions,” he added, pointing out that the municipalities must function like corporations in order to allow them greater autonomy and financial independence to expand their revenue base and to invest their surplus revenues prudently.
“Council is committed to transparent and diligent stewardship of all resources from Central Government and local collections. We will make Bartica a model town not just for Guyana and the Caribbean, but the world as a whole. We will start with excellence in administration and working collaboratively with our citizens also doing their part”.
