Dear Editor,
LET me from the outset state categorically, I am in full support of the process in principle to institute parking meters in Georgetown, Guyana. My logic is very simple: if you can afford a car, you should be able to afford to pay for your parking in central Georgetown. But what I cannot understand is why there is so much secrecy surrounding the now ill-famous “Parking Meter Contract.”Is history about to repeat itself in Guyana where financial skullduggery, fuelled by arrogant politicians is about to kick off and take centre stage again? I have been a strong supporter of Mayor Patricia Chase- Green for a long time, since I think she brings a more “can do attitude” to the city than her predecessor, Cde Hammie, who clearly was out to lunch on the fundamental issues on more occasions than not. But clearly Mayor Patricia has stepped off the road on this “Parking Meter Contract” and is clearly now in the mud. I wish for her sake that she comes out of the mud, back on to the road, because I still think she has much value to add to the city of Georgetown.
I have no problem with the fact that the mayor intends to go full speed ahead to have parking meters installed in the City of Georgetown. But that position can only be supported after due process was followed by fully adhering to the principles of accountability and transparency. The foundation principles in the procurement of any goods or services have to be the promotion of competition and securing the best value for money spent. I, like many others whom I have spoken to, cannot with a clear conscious conclude that the people of Guyana are securing the best value for money as a result of this “Parking Meter Contract.” It smells and looks rotten.
Answers to these three questions will expose that “something is rotten in the city of Georgetown” if I am permitted to borrow portions of a Shakespearean quote from Hamlet:
1. Is there anything unique about these goods and services being provided? The answer is NO! Every properly conceivable city of the world has parking meters and there are hundreds of contractors doing this kind of work, so why sole-source?
2. Are the goods and services being offered of a highly complex nature? The answer is again NO! The technology is basic, the systemography is elementary and operation is easy to manage, so why are we sole-sourcing again?
3. Is there a major disaster about to unfold if we do not procure from this preferred sole-sourced contractor? The answer is again NO! This is not a broken sea defence structure that needs immediate attention before the next high tide or else the villagers will be flooded at great loss to the economy. This contract can wait until it is figured out professionally by the technical experts.
And where are the Transparency Advocates such as Christopher Ram, Anand Goolsarran, and Ramon Gaskin? Where is the voice of Mr. Nigel Hinds, the accountant now when we need it? Why are they so silent all of a sudden in light of this mass act of procurement transgression which is directly contributing to a breakdown in public confidence in the M&CC?
If one is to observe who went on this trip, none of them are technical experts in parking meters and at a minimum, the city engineer and city treasurer should have been on that trip with the mayor and the town clerk, rather than Mr. Oscar Clarke, General-Secretary of the PNC and city councillor. As I said, something stinks on this contract and therefore I am calling on President Granger to engage his technicians to review this procurement deal, since it appears as though a huge scandal is in the making here, especially in light of so much secrecy. Shame on those who are trying to hide public business from the members of the public.
Regards
Sase Singh