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PARKING METERS ARE A BLIGHT

Feb 10, 2017 Editorial, Features / Columnists

Two weeks after the formal operation of parking meters on some streets in Georgetown, hundreds of citizens, including parliamentarians, business owners and members of civic society, gathered in front of City Hall for the second time to protest against the parking meter initiative. However, on the first occasion, the peaceful protest descended into chaos as several alleged City Council supporters staged a counter protest and hurled insults at the anti-parking meter protestors.
The protest ended with the singing of the National Anthem, but many, including the AFC have called on the government to rescind the contract, given the disruption to businesses. Some have supported the installation of the meters, but felt that the City’s approach to the issue was dictatorial. The protest was organised by a social group known as “Movement against Parking Meters” whom the Mayor and Town Clerk characterized as backward thinkers.
It seems that there is no end to the parking meter controversy. Many, including some Councilors, have questioned the lack of transparency and consultation prior to the installation of the meters. The system which is a joint venture between SCS and the Mayor and City Council has had an avalanche of criticisms. It has divided the residents of the city. And yet the government has stayed out of the fray. Its claim that City Hall has autonomy to make its own by-laws is deceitful. If this is the case, then the citizens should demand that the Ministry of Communities be abolished for being incompetent.
The arrogance and ineptness by some city officials have escalated to the point where the President was forced to intervene and he ordered a reduction of the price.It is pathetic to know that City Hall is allowed to act as a state within a state.
The parking meters’ project is an appalling idea. It seems that City officials did not listen to the people, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and several other groups. The PSC has urged the government to intervene in the impasse between the citizens and the City and rescind what it labelled the “illegal” parking meter contract, but the government has responded negatively.
Had the Mayor and Town Clerk listened to the people or engaged stakeholders on the issue through public meetings, they would have negotiated a much better contract instead of the 20 percent in revenue given to them by SCS.
Passionate pleas from several businesses which have seen their sales plummet by as much as 50 percent since the installation of the parking meters have fallen on deaf ears. Businesses in close proximity to the parking meters have claimed that their customers have rejected them and are staying away from the stores.
Further, the refusal by the city administration to engage the business community in an attempt to mitigate the ill effects of the parking meter project could have serious consequences. City Hall and the central government have been forewarned of the negative effects of the parking meters on the retail sector.
It should be told that in an integrated economy such as that of Guyana, the success or failure of one sector has spinoff effects in other areas and upon the country as a whole. The government is aware that the failure of the retail sector could result in hundreds of lays offs of store employees. Some businesses have already begun reducing the hours of their workers.
The satire of it all is that City Officials are tearing apart the political base of APNU/PNC and the government has done very little to prevent it. If it is true that the Municipality would collect at the very least $240 million for 2017 based on its share of 20 percent of revenue collected, it means that Smart City Solutions will receive $960 million based on its share of 80 percent. It does not make sense. It’s voodoo economics. It’s a bizarre contract that benefits a foreign company four times more than the residents of Georgetown and the country as a whole. The parking meter is a blight on the City.

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