By Clestine Juan

CITY Hall can expect a 20 per cent gross income generated from the placement of parking meters around town starting from September, said Director of National Parking Systems (NPS) Ifa Kamau Cush
In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Thursday, Cush explained that whether the parking meter project makes a profit or not, City Hall would still benefit from its fixed 20 per cent gross income.
According to the director, the project will create a new revenue stream for the city which currently receives $24M in subventions from the Government every year.
The project is expected to generate between $100M-200M in the first year of implementation.
It is contracted to run for the next 49 years, and already, the NPS has invested tens of millions of dollars in preparatory works.
“It’s time that we re-imagine the city as it once was and this parking meter project is the first step in transforming the city,” Cush said, pointing out that it will create over 100 new jobs.
He also disclosed that the company plans to set a standard of corporate responsibility in Guyana, while unionised workers will benefit from various job entitlements with their labour rights not being violated or exploited.
“This project will empower our citizens of Guyana to contribute to the public good, so that the city can earn money to clean drains, fix the roads and beautify Georgetown. We need to think outside of the box, take bold steps to move our city forward,” the director said as he stressed the benefits of the project.
The project will focus on the central business district in Georgetown, notably Regent, Robb, Carmichael, Middle and Water Streets.
According to Cush, the aim is to expand to Sheriff and Princes Streets. The meters are expected to be solar-powered and have a variety of value-added features.
The parking meter project has come in for criticism for the cost of parking and for non-consultation with city residents and businesses.
Both the Government through the Attorney General’s Chambers and the Ministry of Finance plan to review the contract for the project, which is being implemented by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC)
At a post-Cabinet press briefing Wednesday, Minister of State Joseph Harmon told reporters that Cabinet has decided to review the contract to ensure that there are no illegalities based on the complaints made.
The contract for implementation of the parking meters project was signed with National Parking Systems (NPS)/Smart City Solutions. But notwithstanding the ongoing row over the implementation of the parking meters, Minister Harmon gave the assurance that Government’s decision to review the contract is by no means an attempt to interfere in the affairs of the City Council.
“If they claim there is something wrong or there is something illegal, then Government has a responsibility to look at the contract itself to see whether there is anything in the contract that closely resembles the complaints by citizens.”
He said Government supports the efforts of the City Council to garner revenue, while reducing congestion on city streets, but its intervention is necessary because Georgetown is the capital city.
According to Harmon, Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan has briefed Cabinet about the project, noting that whatever the outcome, it is the citizens who will be affected.
Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan has publicly declared that the parking meter project is a shady one. He said the mere fact that the city Mayor has refused to reveal the details of the contract to City Councillors and make the contract public, suggest that something sinister is taking place.
“So much has been shady with regard to the contract and how it will be rolled out,” said Duncan, who insists that something is amiss with the project.