NFL Jerseys Outlet there were 1

micevan1l6

NEW AMSTERDAM, BERBICE – The 75-foot tower at the New Amsterdam Town Hall is falling apart and the Council does not have enough in the coffers to preserve it. Two Wednesdays ago, pieces of wood and broken glass broke off causing minor injury to a passer-by and a staff member. On Friday, Town Clerk Angellina Collins indicated that only $1 million,Russell Westbrook College Jersey, which is in a special account, is available so far to avert disaster and preserve the historic structure. This money was garnered over a period from fund raising events and donations.Ms. Collins explained that just looking at it from a distance one can see how much the tower is leaning and also in the actual Town Hall the movement of the foundation is evident, “Every day the situation gets worse. It is a cause for concern and an accident waiting to happen. Members of the public, market vendors, and staff of the Council all must traverse in the vicinity below the tower. We also sought help from the National Trust and they advised us to get an estimate. To do this a structural engineer is needed and this is where Ministry of Works and Hydraulics comes in.”The Council tried almost every avenue since it is a race against time, “It’s a historical building and we really need to preserve it. It is a danger. I am asking overseas based Guyanese to help save the tower and also in developing the town. Generally,Mark Sanchez College Jersey, persons can give money, tools, protective gear and the like.”Efforts to secure a comment from the Ministry of Works and Hydraulics were unsuccessful.Permanent Secretary of the Local Government Ministry,Ronnie Lott USC Jersey, Seechan, said that he was unaware of the situation but now that the matter has been brought to the attention of his Ministry, he would look into the situation.However, the New Amsterdam Town Council has in its possession a letter written by Mayor of the town, Claude Henry, on November 14, 2008, to the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Kellawan Lall, requesting his intervention and consideration.The contents state,Kyle Lowry Villanova Jersey, “the historical 75-foot tower attached to the New Amsterdam Town Hall is in a very deplorable condition. Due to our limited financial resources, we are not in a position to effect such a repair which is estimated at a cost of approximately $10 million.”During a recent interview, Treasurer of the New Amsterdam Town Council, Sharon Anderson, had said that the Council receives an annual $10 M Government Subvention. In her 2008 Budget presentation she had requested a further $5M increase but no favourable action was taken. And in the said letter to Minister of Local Government, the Mayor had also requested an increase in the annual Subvention.The Town Hall was erected in 1868. According to the Treasurer, in 2007, a contractor gave a $5.6 million estimate to restore it but a second opinion several years later  revealed that $15 million would be a more realistic figure.Meanwhile, in 2008 the Council received $9.2 million in outstanding taxes as at October 30th,Josh Rosen College Jersey, 2008, with $4 million being interest on the outstanding balance owed by defaulters. The following year, 2009, $127 million was anticipated but only 45 percent of that amount was realised. This topped the 2008 figure and was a direct result of the legal notices dispatched in a bid to recuperate monies outstanding.This year, the New Amsterdam Municipality has taken on a ‘no-nonsense’ approach to those who continue to shirk their tax obligation and it would be a case of pay up or face the music. During last year, the Council, through an attorney, issued legal notices to at least 50 residents and many responded. Summons will soon be served on non-payers who failed to comply. Those who were not served last year are to receive their legal notices shortly.In this year’s budget presentation, Treasurer Sharon Anderson said the council is striving to rise above the circumstances that face it. It is anticipated that some $130 million would be collected this year but as at the end of January 2010, only $5.8 million was realised. The $130 million is arrived at based on increased abattoir fees which should have been collected since last year but due to the poor condition of the facility it was not realised. Other determining factors are the payments received for signboards and market fees which were boosted from $204 to $500 and $405 to $600 weekly.Topping this year’s Budget is the $35 million expenditure for the Treasurer’s Department followed by $18 million each on the Constabulary section, general works and the New Amsterdam Market and $11 million for the Town Clerk’s Administration.Some $3 million was budgeted for the Stanleytown Cemetery. Last year,Brett Hundley College Jersey, the Council intended to build five bridges to the burial ground but due to theft and the high cost only two were done. These structures were made using tubes and wooden revetment before the earthen foundation was laid. There are also general maintenance and replacement of the stolen zinc sheets from the Chapel to be done.The Esplanade Recreational Park and the Basketball Court are to derive benefits from the budgeted $2 million allocation. Among other aspects is the Septic Tank category. Here, $2 million is set aside for the excavator and services that accompany it but this cannot be touched since the machinery has been out of operation for several years.When the 2010 budget hearing was held in October last year, the need for a better public/Council rapport whereby shortcomings of both sides would be known and the intentions of the council made public,Cheap Villanova Wildcats Jerseys, the need for an assistance pact between business community and other organisations was brought out. So too was the call for higher taxes based on the escalating cost of living and the fact that the Council must pay the value added tax but is not permitted to collect tax on any service.Since VAT was implemented in Guyana straight on to July 2009, the New Amsterdam Town Council paid almost $1 million in VAT. This takes into account the purchase of road and building materials, janitorial supplies, electrical items and other paraphernalia.The valuation of residential property is rather low; in some prime locations in New Amsterdam the owners pay only $780 per annum and at some of these very locations where there are empty lots the cost is a yearly $584 while others cost $1,952.The Council generally is finding it difficult to provide basic services for the 35,000 persons between the Canje Bridge and Glasgow including a section of Mount Sinai.New Amsterdam is approximately 14 square kilometers with a population of some 35,Josh Hart College Jersey,000 and has 343 commercial properties and 3,Brett Hundley UCLA Jersey,631 residential.In 2008, there were 1,000 squatters but the figure has now reduced to 500 and these persons are found mainly in Angoy’s Avenue.