“Ring Bang” rang in my ears last Saturday

Sep 20, 2012 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

International star, Eddy Grant has a hotel named Blue Wave on North Road. In 2000, controversy arose about the parapet on the northern part of the road outside the hotel. The owner decided to clear the parapet, concrete it and put up two “Ring Bang” pillars on the site.
City Hall contended that when the job was complete the land would virtually be exclusive. In other words, only the hotel ownership would control that part of the parapet. The other thinking that went into the row was that when private companies and individuals spruce up the parapets in front of their houses, and prevent access to the public then the land virtually becomes their property.
As it turned out, the “Ring Bang” pillars were allowed and the parapet was neatly fitted out with a concrete ground. I seriously doubt that drivers not connected to Blue Wave would park there. You just know that that it is for people going to the hotel and you accept that you should not park there. Twist it anyway you want to, the “Ring Bang” parapet lies beyond the reach of Guyanese drivers.
The concept of the parapet in Guyana is not an easy one to grasp and the arising controversy is not an easy one to settle. The consensus among homeowners going back to time immemorial is that the parapet in front of your home actually is for you to use even though in law it does not belong to you.
But how legal and morally right is that? Even if it is not legally yours, by virtue of your rejection of the public access to it, it becomes exclusively yours.
Now, one would have a hard time convincing homeowners that people should be allowed to park on the parapet outside their home. This practice of exclusive use is very widespread all over Guyana. A new development has taken place. Homeowners are actually putting huge boulders on the parapets in front of their houses.
In the gated community where I live at Turkeyen, former GT&T CEO, Yog Mahadeo has planted palm trees all around his parapet. One of my neighbours has actually fenced in his parapet. Yet another resident where I live has tiled the entire grassy land outside his home.
The Georgetown Club on Camp Street is a large place so they have a large parapet on which they put some gigantic bricks and painted them in white. This means that drivers cannot use that part of the parapet that belongs to Guyana.
I had a big fight with Henry Green when he was Commissioner of Police about the edict from the Beharry family about UG taxies parking on the parapet outside the family mansion. This is a large edifice that is situated at the highway and UG Access Road. It takes in almost a quarter of a mile of parapet on the UG Access Road.
The Beharry family objected to the taxis on the parapet, the police agreed and the matter went to court. The UG taxi owners lost because the Ministry of Works who was the defence did not turn up in court.
Last Saturday, I got into a quarrel with the ownership of Steve’s Jewellery on Church Street. I arrived early to shop at the Bourda Green. There was no parking at all in the area. This establishment takes in about seven parking lots of the parapet. Security came out and instructed me not to park. I refused. I got encouragement from market vendors and passing citizens. The company said the lots are for customers.
I said the lots are totally empty and I am not blocking any entrance. They persisted. I rang the higher authorities of the police force and they sent a traffic rank.
The owner came out and explained to the police that he spent money to spruce up the parapet. My argument was that such expenditure did not give him the right to exclude members of the public from parking. The police told him that it is unreasonable to prevent a citizen from parking if the lots are empty.
The security said what happens if customers arrive. It is hardly likely that it is empty then all of a sudden seven drivers turn up. How can you prevent parking on the assumption that customers are coming? Suppose they don’t come? Then a public parapet cannot be used.
I agree that employees have a right to park on the parapet of their work place and non-employees must accept that and move on but this customer parking thing is a tricky business. What do you think?

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“Ring Bang” rang in my ears last Saturday

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