Giftland will have to pay taxes once proper procedure followed -Chief Justice clarifies

In handing down her orders, the Chief Justice made it very clear that once the proper procedure is followed, the popular Giftland Mall will have to pay up the taxes it owes to the Georgetown City Council.

Giftland will have to pay taxes once proper procedure followed  -Chief Justice clarifies

The Mayor and Councilors of Georgetown spent part of their statutory meeting on Monday watching the ruling and orders handed down by the Chief Justice in the tax case against the Giftlad Mall.

In handing down her orders, the Chief Justice made it very clear that once the proper procedure is followed, the popular Giftland Mall will have to pay up the taxes it owes to the Georgetown City Council.

The Chief Justice clarified her ruling after it was reported in some sections of the media that there were no taxes owed.

The Chief Justice clarified that she ordered that until proper procedures are followed then the applicant is not liable to taxes but that does not mean the company will not be required to pay the taxes.

“Once the applicable procedures are followed then obviously, they would have to pay that is which is required according to law. So, if it is that the media and I don’t know where they would have gotten it from, if it is that the media is of the view that the applicant is not liable to pay any taxes in perpetuity then they are mistaken”, the Chief Justice clarified.

The clarification came earlier during this month during a hearing.

After a back and forth in the media between City Hall and the Giftland owner, Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine sought and was granted permission to play the recording of the Chief Justice’s order during Monday’s statutory meeting.

  The Chief Justice’s Chambers also promised to provide a transcript of the recording.

Chief Justice Roxann George

The Chief  Justice said she knows exactly what was considered in the matter and has no time for public banter over the order she handed down.

“If everyone listens to the recording of the proceedings, they will hear what was said is that taxes have to be paid but paid according to law and as the law requires.”

She said in her decision the phrase “or at all” was used and that might have caused some confusion.

“But or at all has to be taken in the context of not liable until the proper procedures are followed.  So, when you take a little snippet of something and don’t understand the context then that is where we have a problem”, the Chief Justice pointed out.

You must be logged in to post a comment Login