Along with the trade license, the commercial garbage fee has also been raised but Cawich also blames the former government for not applying them in a timely manner.
Reporter
"Can you explain the fees that were raised for that as well. We focused primarily on the trade license on the shift over to the garbage fees."
"I know this morning I saw one that it was initially $144 and it's now $600 that they're paying."
Pablo Cawich, Mayor of Belmopan
"Well, you saw two receipts, it doesn't mean necessarily that it's for the same person."
Reporter
"Okay, they had a before and after, so yeah."
Pablo Cawich, Mayor of Belmopan
"You know how things go. Sometimes people manipulate things to make it appear a certain way."
"But yes I can answer the question because yes there is some fact in the potential for an increase by certain businesses. There is a second portion other than square footage that is considered with regards to commercial garbage rates. We also consider the category of business because there are certain types of businesses that generate less garbage than others so it's not just the size of your business the type of business matters as well so that is also a factor. In majority of the cases the increase has been due to the garbage fee that was applied did not match what it was supposed to be."
