Georgetown Chamber still to meet Minister over parking meter concerns

Apr 10, 2018 Peeping Tom

-set to file objections over bylaws

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and the Movement against Parking Meters, (MAPM) have said that they would be taking steps to file their objections to the recently approved parking meter bylaws.
During a joint press conference at GCCI headquarters, Waterloo Street, Georgetown, yesterday, representatives of the two bodies sought to further register their concerns regarding the contentious project.
Last week the revised parking meter bylaws were approved by a majority vote of the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown (M&CC), after thirteen councillors voted in support of the project.
In addition to expressing discontent at the manner in which the project was handled, GCCI and MAPM announced yesterday that steps will be taken to file objections in relation to the metered parking.
The GCCI disclosed the objection will be copied and forwarded to Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan.
According to GCCI Executive, Nicholas Deygoo, the Chamber has written to the Minister several times within the past months, requesting an audience with him. He said however that Bulkan is yet to meet with the Chamber.
Members of the GCCI Executive are fearful that fewer people will come to the city to shop if the Minister of Communities approves the bylaws and the meters are reactivated.
Deygoo noted that there was a decline in the flow of customers at the initial implementation of the project.
Meanwhile MAPM‘s Marcel Gaskin noted the group is not totally against metered parking.
“If these things are properly addressed in a proper manner, we would have no objection to parking meter system in the City.”
Gaskin stressed that there was no impact assessment, feasibility study or means test to determine people’s ability to pay, only evidence from the brief implementation of metered parking which resulted in a severe slump in business activity.
Gaskin also noted that of concern is the award of the contract to Smart City Solutions in alleged breach of municipal and national procurement tender procedures.
The revised bylaws must be publicized across the City for at least 14 days before they are sent to Minister of Communities for approval and thereafter published in the Official Gazette
Last year amid widespread public outcry, including weekly street protests by civil society and groups, central government had suspended the parking meter bylaws.
The MAPM had led the city-wide protest action against the contract signed between the M&CC with SCS.
MAPM had called for the requisite standard of consultation, which it was confident would reveal that the contract entered into by the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown with SCS and the aforesaid bylaws ought to be revoked in their entirety.
The Body remained resolute in its call for complete revocation and said it will continue to work until this objective is achieved.

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