MAPM rejects Bulkan’s ‘renegotiation’ of parking meter contract

Apr 07, 2017 News

The Movement Against Parking Meters (MAPM) is against the position taken by Minister of

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan

Communities, Ronald Bulkan, that the three month suspension of the Georgetown Parking Meter by-laws is only to facilitate a renegotiation of the contract.
According to the MAPM, Bulkan made this statement in an interview with HGPTV Nightly News which was televised on March 27, last. The group said in a statement on Wednesday that Bulkan, during the interview, said that the consultations which are to take place during the suspension period are to facilitate a renegotiation of the contract “on a more equitable formula.”
With this in mind, the MAPM reiterated its call for a complete revocation of the contract which was entered into by the Georgetown Mayor and City Council and Smart City Solutions (SCS).
The group’s basis for maintaining its position is that the contract is “illegal ab initio having been unlawfully entered into in breach of tendering and procurement legislation among other illegalities and irregularities.”
Bolstering its argument, the MAPM said that Bulkan’s position is in conflict with the Ministry of Finance’s review of the contract which concluded that the agreement should be rescinded and not ‘renegotiated’.
The group said that it remains watchful and ready to mobilise should the M&CC of Georgetown and SCS seek to reinstate a metered parking system in the Capital City under the contract.
Meanwhile, although consultations are supposed to be held during the three-month suspension which began two week ago, no consultation has begun with residents of Georgetown and other stakeholders.
This was confirmed when Kaieteur News contacted the M&CC public relations department and while speaking with a member of the MAPM. The M&CC was requested to host consultations with the protesting group. However, according to one member, no contact has even been made regarding such engagements.
The three-month suspension is expected to end on May 23, 2017. It was instituted following deliberations on the project which had engaged the attention of Cabinet for quite some time.

Flashback: MAPM members during one of their protests against the parking meter contract.

In addition, Cabinet also instructed Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, to advise the Commissioner of Police to ensure that citizens and their vehicles would receive the protection of the Guyana Police Force to prevent them and their vehicles from being unduly hindered or restrained in any way whatsoever by the Georgetown City Council and its agents.
The MAPM has been consistently calling for the revocation of the contract, particularly through eight protests organised by the group and held in-front of City Hall on Regent Street. Present at all of the demonstrations were representatives of civil society, private sector, motorists and residents of Georgetown.
Despite the lowering of parking fees and fines, the group has maintained that it is against reduction and supports revocation of the contract. It would want nothing less to be the product of their efforts, the group said.
When Kaieteur News reported on details of the original contract it was revealed that if City Hall wishes to unilaterally terminate the contract without the written consent of the company, the City shall pay SCS a lump sum equivalent to the total direct and indirect, hard and soft cost cumulative gross investment of the company in the project.
However, this cost is compounded by an additional 15 per cent of the total direct and indirect, hard and soft cost cumulative gross investment of the company in the project. When that 15 per cent is calculated it is to be multiplied by the number of remaining years under the agreement.
The company was also given the power to begin charging at nights in areas that are high traffic spots. The enforcement activities of the project have also been heavily criticised.

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