The Ministry of Communities recently signed a $335M project with the Municipal Assessments Canada (MPAC) and Axilogic Inc. to update the property inventory and valuation systems across local democratic organs in Guyana. The project will be piloted in New Amsterdam, Berbice today and is expected to be completed towards the end of 2019.
The signing of the contract which took place at the ministry’s boardroom in Kingston paves way for the introduction of new technology and capacity building to support the sustainable implementation of modernized property inventory and valuation.
Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan said that the project will allow for central government’s support to the restoration of capacity and functionality within local government organs since over time the revenue base of many councils has been questioned.
He added that the project is long overdue, as the last national valuation was done more than two decades ago. Minister Bulkan explained that many councils are challenged due to inadequate information on the total number of properties and their values.
“There are cases where the rates of modest residential properties are at the same level of high priced properties and it poses as a severe impediment to councils to be able to have an equitable weighting regime. Of course, it impacts seriously on the council’s ability to garner sufficient revenue,” Minister Bulkan said.
Against this backdrop, the Minister said that Cabinet approved the engagement with the Canadian companies.
Canadian High Commissioner, Liliann Chatterjee, who witnessed the signing, described the project as vital to the development of Guyana. Co-Founder and President of AxiLogic Inc., Michael Chettleburgh, shared his company’s intention to work closely with Guyanese in educating them about the new technology and processes which will be used to create a centre of excellence in property evaluation.
