Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has sharply criticised a recent decision by the Georgetown Mayor and City Council to reduce tax rates for political parties, arguing that the move serves the self-interest of the opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R).
During his weekly press conference at Freedom House on Wednesday, Jagdeo condemned the council’s motion, which would cut the tax and rate payments for political parties to just 25% of the current amounts.
He expressed disbelief that such a proposal was made, especially since the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), which he represents, did not request this reduction.
“This was not solicited by the PPP/C as the largest party in the country and the party was shocked that they would bring this proposal and rush it through city council,” Jagdeo stated.
Jagdeo suggested that the council’s decision might be driven by ulterior motives, particularly in light of the PNC/R’s tax arrears.
According to Jagdeo, the PNC/R owes the city council approximately $6.7 billion in unpaid taxes. This debt is only for amounts owed on their headquarters at Congress Place, Sophia. He said there are additional sums owed for other properties the party owns in the city.
“A demand notice was sent to the PNC/R for the sums owed,” Jagdeo revealed.
“How do you get rates and taxes up to $6.7 billion? Clearly, they didn’t pay for a long time and the interest accrued, and now they have to pay this huge sum of money.”
Jagdeo urged civil society and media houses to investigate and report on the implications of the tax reduction decision. He criticised the PNC/R’s actions as an example of “typical lawless behavior” and called on newspapers, including Stabroek News, to address issues of good governance and transparency in local government practices in its editorials.
