Voters in St. George?s are being urged to pay their back taxes if they want to vote in the forthcoming by election.

William Davis is retiring just a few months into his second term on the Corporation of St. George?s for health reasons.

A by-election is likely in September but Mayor E. Michael Jones said only voters who had paid all their taxes up to January this year would be eligible to vote.

Government picked up the tax bill earlier this month as it seeks to end the curse of double taxation for OldeTown residents, some of whom pay around $400 a year, in two tranches.

Mr. Jones set off on Thursday to Lyme Regis with Town Crier David Frith who is competing in the town crier competition in the English town?s Sir George Somers? Day celebrations.

Sir George, lived in Lyme Regis, on England?s southwest coast, before making his historic voyage west. Mr. Jones will be planting trees at Sir George?s Dorset home during the visit.