Dear Editor,

CLEARLY, the ‘Old Timers’ at City Hall do not understand what the real beef is by the new Councillors and the citizens of Georgetown regarding implementation of the proposed parking meters in our capital.
It is not about whether the Council has the legal authority, or whether it should be implementing a parking meter system, but rather it is all about the clandestine, crooked and unacceptable manner in which the Council is attempting to go about implementing it.

First of all, the Georgetown Municipality is not a law unto itself, but rather is subject to the fiscal laws of Guyana; and therefore it was, and is, mandatory that the tender procedures be followed — which requires ads to be put out locally and internationally for bids to be submitted and considered in a transparent way for the installation of a parking meter system.

It is unacceptable — whether done during the life of the last Council or the present Council — that Mr. Cush could walk in with a proposal costing tens of millions of US dollars and tie the hands of the City Council for the next fifty years.

Second, all councillors in a municipality are equal, and therefore it is objectionable and intolerable that only a few councillors are allowed to have possession of the contract document whilst the others are allowed only to have a peek at it in the office. This document should not only be made completely available to all councillors and officers of the Council, but to Cabinet, members of Parliament, and the citizens of Georgetown.

What is so classified about a parking meter contract? The councillors should not even entertain a discussion on the subject until they are in possession of the document and are able to peruse it thoroughly.

Third, how could the Finance Chairman say he is getting like Mr. Harmon, and that he has no apologies for disregarding Tender Board procedures, for sneaking away stealthily on this infamous trip to Mexico and Panama, and for concealing information from his colleagues? In a decent and democratic society, he would have been removed forthwith from chairing such a committee. But, then again, his arrogance is well known, if we can recall the debacle with his altercation with former Parliamentarian Vanessa Kissoon and the haughty and callous approach he took when dealing with striking workers after he had just been sworn is as Finance Chairman and Councillor.

I hope the AFC is taking note of how the Deputy Mayor is being treated by some APNU bullies, and I hope the Government would pull these errant Councillors and the Mayor in line.
Regards,
SEAN MONIZ