Lack of Transparency and Accountability in Parking Meter Deal

Lack of Transparency and Accountability in Parking Meter Deal – TIGI

Aug 09, 2016 News

The Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. is of the view that the handling of the parking meter project by the Georgetown Municipality and its response to relevant queries, exhibit an absence of democratic principles and disregard for citizens.
According to the Institute the procedures employed by the Georgetown M&CC would lead to a feeling of exclusion and alienation from the decision making process. These failures serve as strong contradictions to the purpose of local government.
An issued statement by the institute said, “Local government should empower citizens to determine their own path, but this necessitates a decision-making process that is characterised by transparency, full disclosure of relevant information, and responsiveness to the concerns of those whose lives and livelihoods would be affected.”
It was pointed out that the project did not undergo an open tender process. Further it said that coupled with the handpicking of a contractor was the selectivity of counsellors to conduct due diligence in Mexico and Panama.
TIGI is of the position that this was perhaps necessary since it was a fool’s errand from the onset against the backdrop of an already signed contract. This positioned it in the interest of the Mayor to find the firm suitable or even exceeding the requirements.
According to the Institute, the alignment of interests set the Mayor in a defence mode, whereby she had to defend the decision, defend the contractor and defend the idea of the project instead of listening to the people and addressing their concerns.
The statement went further. “Added to this is the bewildering secrecy surrounding the contract when the contract itself should be with the people of Georgetown.”
The Institute has taken the firm position that the manner in which the Council is conducting business regarding the project is entirely inappropriate. The decisions made will affect the lives of many Guyanese and will affect future generations.
The statement stressed that there must be transparency and accountability in the operations of local government and the views of the people must be respected.
Moreover, the Institute believes that if this project is allowed to continue in its current configuration in spite of a legal basis for enacting a new and transparent process, it will be a telling blow to transparency, accountability and good governance.
It said, “The people of Georgetown, their children, grandchildren and perhaps great-great-grandchildren have been bullied into a deal the details of which are yet unknown and which from all accounts, has not benefited from an assessment of feasibility or their input.”

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Lack of Transparency and Accountability in Parking Meter Deal – TIGI

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