Free parking for teachers -parking meters to be removed from in front of schools
A City Constabulary office and a staff of Smart City Solutions demonstrates how a vehicle will be wheel-booted if the driver fails to pay for a demarcated spot which he/she is required to pay for
A City Constabulary office and a staff of Smart City Solutions demonstrates how a vehicle will be wheel-booted if the driver fails to pay for a demarcated spot which he/she is required to pay for

TEACHERS in the public school system, who drive, can now breathe a sigh of relief since they will not be required to pay for parking while on the job.This was announced by President of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), Mark Lyte, following intense discussions with the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) and Smart City Solutions (SCC), the company that is operating the meters. Immediate rejection of the parking meters placed outside of schools prompted the two bodies to meet to discuss the way forward for teachers.

And on Friday, Lyte informed the public, via a Facebook post that “no teacher in the public school system will be required to pay for parking their vehicle, while they teach the nation’s children.”

Parking meters which were recently introduced to the city have been placed in front of the Bishops’ High School and the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation center. It is estimated that more than 10 teachers from the Bishops’ High School drive and those who spoke with this publication lamented that the $200 per hour rate was too “burdensome.”

However, in addition to teachers not having to pay for parking, the GTU President said that those meters which have already been installed in front of schools, will be removed, while no other meter will be mounted outside of any public school. Lyte took the opportunity to express appreciation to the M&CC and Smart City Solutions – the company contracted to manage and regulate the meters – for granting the union’s request to have the parking meters in front of schools removed.

“The GTU also wishes to thank its members for standing with us during these difficult times, also to the Prime Minister and Deputy Mayor for their intervention” he said.

Meanwhile, the SCC continues to allow a grace period of free parking, indefinitely, although paid parking in the city has commenced. On Friday, members of the City Constabulary were out in their numbers policing the streets, looking for vehicles which were parked in the demarcated spots without the drivers paying for those spots. Those vehicles were wheel-booted, but according to the officers, this was just an “exercise” to demonstrate what will happen when the paid parking system is fully introduced.

The introduction of these meters has been met with staunch resistance from drivers, who are refusing to park on the streets. On Tuesday, when it was believed the meters were introduced, streets around Georgetown, where payment is needed for parking, were visibly clear.

Meanwhile, government said it has taken note of this rejection by the public, and while it is too early to draw a conclusion on the matter, the executive said that it will allow the local government body to operate with autonomy as is mandated by the Constitution.

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman told a media briefing on Thursday that while government continues to monitor and observe the situation, it will only intervene if it is imperative.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

All our printed editions are available online
emblem3
Subscribe to the Guyana Chronicle.
Sign up to receive news and updates.
We respect your privacy.