The Mayor of Georgetown, Alfred Mentore, has defended a move by the City Council to institute an institutional across the board 25% tax rate for political parties.

The move has been rejected by the governing People’s Progressive Party

In response to a state-tv interview session with PPP Councillors last evening, Mayor Mentore explained that the institutional tax rate is not one that will benefit one particular political party, but all political parties will benefit.

“The fact remains we have to do what we have to do at the level of the Council for the benefit of various persons and we will be working with our Attorneys to seek redress on issues of amnesty and how to monetize our assets as well as to get joint ventures and other partnerships so that we can get the kind of monies we are looking at the level of the Council,” Mentore noted.

The Mayor said the issue has been before the Council since February of this year and that the question of Institutional rates was gazetted since under the tenure of Patrica Chase-Green when she was the Mayor.

Ms. Chase-Greene is now a PPP Councillor and is on the forefront of rejecting the institutional rates for political parties.

“Political parties are not for profit. Every year or every five-years these parties at a national level have to go and seek donation to run off elections at the local level they also need to seek financing, so it is natural that those political parties also need a little break like the citizens as well, who we have asked for an amnesty for recently, but it was blocked by the government,” the Mayor told a News Conference.

The Mayor said he will not be distracted by the noise over the issue.

He said the Georgetown City Council will forge ahead with its plans. The Mayor said he was shocked by the Government’s outrage, since it is the very Government that continues to offer massive concessions and tax breaks to companies.

He said the City will continue to work with its stakeholders to increase its revenue base.

Related posts:

Jagdeo fumes at City Hall’s move to apply lower “Institutional” tax rate to political parties City Mayor warns of shake-up in Administration Department at City Hall City Council offering amnesty on interest for delinquent rate payers City Mayor defends Council’s decision to recommend firing of City Engineer