Dear Editor,
I SHOULD be grateful if you would publish this letter on the abandonment of Parking Meters in Georgetown. The revenue generated under this proposal can be garnered easily without additional cost of staff, equipment, materials, and administration.
A small increase on fuel at source can provide the revenue for subvention, equalled to the accurate net estimate of the revenue from the proposed parking meter project. The additional revenue can be collected by the relevant government agency at source from distributors up front.
Parking Meter Negotiating Committee, let good common sense prevail; take the right course of action in the interest of all, and negotiate the abandonment of the project.
The following extract from my earlier letter in February 2017, states in part:
“A Smarter Alternative to Parking Meters
The City Council of Georgetown should consider a smarter alternative to collect more revenue than by what is considered by many as an ill-conceived, burdensome and expensive parking meter venture for a small return, even if all the meters are fully used. The negotiating brains in the City Council should have explored the best possible options for revenue generation, and after careful study, canvassed views of the consuming public, residents and businesses in the city. This should have been the decision of a duly constituted full Council meeting, although not the best options
Here is an option: The City Council should negotiate with Central Government for a subvention to cover the estimated net income from the parking meters. Government can institute a small increase in the price for each gallon of fuel, collected up front from the few distributors for this venture. This small increase in the price for fuel can be extended to the entire country as vehicles use and park in other cities and along public roadways. This can contribute to the subventions for other Municipalities and Regional Councils. This is a more equitable solution.
The parking meters should therefore be abandoned along with Smart City Solutions. The same negotiators of the Council should negotiate the scrapping of this venture”.
Regards
Samuel J. Goolsarran