By Ayodele Deen Cole
One of the spokespersons for the Sierra Leone People’s
Party (SLPP) led government, Abu Bakarr Joe Sesay, has expressed anger over the
increase in property tax announced by the administration of the Freetown City Council
(FCC) that has been put on hold by the government.
The new tax sees an increase of 10 percent in the
property rate for businesses and residential houses.
Abu Bakarr Sesay who heads the Strategic Communications
Unit in the Ministry of Information and Communication said the timing of the
introduction of the new tax is wrong; considering the national fight against
COVID-19 and the background of the government lowering taxes to cushion the
effect of the current economic burden imposed on the people. The new tax, he
said, would hinder government’s progress in that direction.
He further disclosed that the reason why the Local Government
Ministry intervened to put the increase on hold was because FCC did not discuss
the subject with the Ministry and that by implication, introducing the new tax
is not a decision FCC can arrive at alone.
Mr. Sesay maintained that the increase is inflationary;
adding that it will result in rent increase and higher cost of goods and
services as business and house owners would use it as their excuse.
However, the FCC Mayor, Her Worship Yvonne Aki
Sawyerr maintains that the increase is to raise revenue to enable the Council
perform its numerous responsibilities to its citizens well.
The Mayor revealed that for example the Council has
not paid its workers for the past two months. The increase, she said, was not
done irrationally but after a geo-mapping housing survey in the face of the Council
not receiving timely subventions from the central government.
However, she promised to hold candid discussion with
the government to address the issue.
