City Hall mulls replacing GRA for vehicle licensing

Jul 17, 2016 News

According to City legislations, the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has responsibility for the identification of all public transportation system operating in Georgetown.

Town Clerk, Royston King

This is supported under Section 301 (26) of the Municipal and District Council’s Act Chapter 28:01 which states that the M&CC has the authority, “to supervise, control and regulate hackney carriages and carts plying for hire and the drivers thereof.”
These “Hackney carriages” are automobiles for hire. The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has been overseeing this service and is receiving the related fees. The M&CC, as part of its wider traffic management programme, is moving to reclaim status over this service.
Town Clerk, Royston King, is reportedly moving to write the state revenue collection agency to begin discussions on reverting management of identifying public transportation to the City.
City By-laws declare the size and content of the hackney identification mark. King has said that a new logo is necessary to depict a true Georgetown identity. However, while the Town Clerk initiates talks with the GRA, he will also provide the Mayor and Councillors with an essay on the subject for their deliberation at a meeting.
City Hall is currently mandated to provide suitable parking lots for public transportation and taxis, while managing private parking.
The need to regain control of traffic and congestion matters has seen the city turn to the controversial parking meters, parking lots and even the recent removal of street vendors in commercial areas.
King said that the identification of taxis, minibuses and other public automobiles by the city will aid in the management of public transportation.
Only authorized transportation will be allowed in designated areas and will be given preferential treatment as a “city registered Operator” plying routes in Georgetown.
He continued that it is the Municipality’s interest to look into the service rendered to citizens by public operators. King noted that many persons complain about loud music, overcrowding, drinking drivers and fast driving when traveling.
He said that City Hall intends to engage drivers and/or the minibus unions to address these matters.
In an interview with Kaieteur News, King said that this latest move is part of a wider plan to organize transportation within the city limits and at the same time garner revenue so that City Hall can channel the additional revenue towards the repair of bridges, parapets and roads.
He noted that public transport in the city is very chaotic and often results in the degradation of Georgetown’s roadways.

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