St. George?s Mayor E. Michael Jones yesterday urged residents to end their boycott on paying taxes to the Corporation.

Some residents in the Bourne Drive neighbourhood have withheld taxes for five years in protest at not getting some basic services such as being on the sewage line, trash collection and road repairs.

St. George?s residents have long complained about double taxation ? where they pay both Government and the Corporation ? and Mr. Jones, who met Finance Minister Paula Cox yesterday, said he was hopeful the problem can be resolved.

?I would encourage everyone to respect the law and pay their taxes. I am ever-hopeful that the Corporation will continue to have a dialogue with the Minister of Finance,? Mr. Jones told yesterday.

?It was my platform in the last two elections to try to alleviate, eradicate or change the system so it would be fair to all tax-payers.

?It was my hope that I would be able to meet government and solve that situation. It is encouraging the Minister of Finance would meet the Corporation to discuss the way forward that will be equitable to everyone in the town.

?If these residents don?t pay their taxes, their credit will be affected and if, for example, they try to open a charge account, they won?t be able to because the Credit Association says they have not paid their finances.?

Mr. Jones confirmed his meeting with Ms Cox yesterday but would not disclose what was discussed.

He said that, prior to 1972, local parish vestries across the Island determined how much each household should pay for services based on the value of their property.

But in 1972, Government introduced a land tax for everyone across the Island for services such as road repairs and garbage collection.

St. George?s residents, however, continued to be charged for services provided by the Corporation such as lighting, some road repairs and garbage collection. The sums involved are several hundred dollars each six months but can be as low as $100, said Mr. Jones.

Residents in Bourne Drive went public with complaints two weeks ago that they are not on the town?s sewage line; they get no street lights; the Corporation does not clean or repair the road; Government picks up their trash; and they get no other Corporation benefits.

Mr. Jones said residents who were not on the sewage line ? using septic tanks ? were further out of town and enjoyed other benefits which balanced this out, such as better views and less traffic and pollution.

And he said the Corporation didn?t have responsibility for estate roads. Residents would have to contact Works and Engineering and the cost of repairs would be split. The Corporation would deal with trimming trees, however.

Bourne Drive residents? spokesman Brian Lindo could not be contacted for comment yesterday.