The Mayor and City Council has extended its amnesty to December 15 so that defaulting taxpayers will “have another opportunity to settle their accounts”.
City Hall had earlier waived all interest on property taxes provided that property owners pay their full account for 2010. The amnesty came to an end yesterday but a press release from City Hall said that the anticipated collection of $200M has not been realised. “Over the last few weeks a fair number of rate-payers took advantage of the amnesty and liquidated their arrears,” the release said, adding, however, that major defaulters are still to settle their accounts.
“All arrangements have been put in place at the Treasury to reduce waiting time. Therefore business owners and rate-payers can visit the treasury and pay their rates. There is not likely to be any further extension of this facility”, the release said.
Market hours extended
Meanwhile, the M&CC has also announced that markets will stay open longer. According to Clerk of Market (ag), Simone McKen, the Bourda, Stabroek, Albouystown and Kitty Markets’ opening hours will be from 7am to 5pm for December 8 to December 15.
For December 16 to December 23, the markets will be opened until 6 pm. And on Christmas Eve the markets will be opened until 8pm. However this does not apply to the Merrriman’s Mall, New Vendors Mall and the East La Penitence market.
There will be heightened patrols especially around these areas by the city constabulary to ensure that the parapets and road ways are kept clear for the easy flow of vehicular traffic and people, the Chief of the City Constabulary, Andrew Foo, said.
