THE Private Sector Commission (PSC) and the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) have spoken out against the controversial parking meters contract by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC).The PSC in a statement yesterday noted that Mayor Patricia Chase-Green and the “select few she has chosen to surround her” have only themselves to blame for the controversy which has arisen on the matter of installing parking meters in the city of Georgetown.
According to the PSC, “the Mayor, in the first place, has isolated her deputy and other City Councillors from participating in the process of arriving at this decision. This is unacceptable and unwarranted.”
The PSC believes that an initiative of this magnitude, affecting as it does, the entire citizenry of the city and beyond, demands public consultation, transparency and open debate.
“The British High Commissioner has made this very point and we endorse his position. The PSC also notes and supports the fact that H.E President David Granger has quite properly questioned the rates to be charged and has expressed the view that these rates may be a serious burden beyond the reach of the average person.”
The PSC also pointed out that the contracting company and the contract details are shrouded in secrecy and appear to be questionable.
“These must be fully disclosed for public scrutiny. The PSC, therefore, cannot and will not support this attempt to impose parking meters on the population until there has been full public debate and support for the matter.”
Meanwhile, the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) is of the view that the M&CC acted in haste and should therefore rethink the controversial parking meter contract.
A release from the political party noted that “The entire issue reflects negatively on the newly elected City Council which had promised a clean break with the old ways of operation.”
The WPA is of the view that there seems to have been very little, if any, meaningful consultation, which leads to a lack of transparency.
“We are alarmed that a project of such magnitude was not first discussed with the citizens of the city who would, in the long run, be affected by its implementation,” the WPA said.
Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan continues to maintain the view that the parking meter deal is a shady one based on his personal research and those of councillors. He noted that insufficient facts are lacking that make supporting the parking meters deal difficult.