The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) of Georgetown must ensure legal compliance if they intend to proceed with plans for granting a tax amnesty.
Failure to do so could result in significant consequences for the town council, warns Attorney General Anil Nandlall.
In September, the M&CC announced its intention to offer taxpayers an amnesty on accumulated interests.
Mayor Alfred Mentore stated that the funds raised through the amnesty would be utilized to settle income tax debts with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).
However, Attorney General Nandlall cautions that even though the M&CC operates under its own statutes, proceeding with the amnesty without proper legal compliance could lead to repercussions.
Mayor Mentore has accused the government of attempting to obstruct the amnesty, which he believes may prevent the municipality from meeting its obligations to the GRA.
Local Government Minister Anand Persaud instructed the M&CC to pause its decision to grant amnesty to defaulting taxpayers.
In a letter dated October 16, the Minister requested the Council to demonstrate whether their decision aligns with Section 163 of the Municipal and District Council Act, Chapter 28:01.
Mayor Mentore has indicated his intention to convene an emergency meeting of the Council to discuss all available options moving forward, including the possibility of legal action.
Reported by Samuel Sukhnandan for NCN News