-says secrecy has dogged “sordid” parking meter contract

The Alliance For Change has condemned Mayor Patricia Chase-Green’s upbraiding of her deputy, Sherod Duncan, saying that they have taken a dim view of the situation and noted that any attack on Duncan constitutes an attack on that party.

At a Monday statutory meeting at the Mayor and City Council, Chase-Green cited Duncan for creating civil unrest and also accused him of peddling misinformation to the public. “If it’s not your way, it’s no way. Let us be honest and fair Mr Deputy Mayor,” she said. The deputy mayor stood up to defend himself, but was interrupted frequently on points of order from the mayor. Duncan has been one of the first persons to oppose the parking meter deal brokered between the M&CC and Smart City Solutions.

In a strongly worded release, the AFC said it is both alarmed and disturbed by reports that the Mayor has sought to blame Duncan for “taking misinformation to the public on the parking meter contract, and causing ‘civil unrest.” “The party condemns, in the strongest possible terms, this unwarranted attack on Mr. Duncan. The Party wishes to remind the Mayor that since August 15, 2016, it has been a matter of public record that on the issue of paid metered parking in Georgetown, Mr. Duncan is the party’s spokesperson and is fully endorsed by the party on this matter.”

According to the AFC, then party Leader Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, was reported in the August 15, 2016 edition of the Stabroek News as stating, “Sherod is dealing with that (paid metered parking contract), he speaks for the party on that matter.” Mr. Duncan continues to be the party’s spokesperson on this issue. Therefore, an attack on Mr. Duncan is, invariably, an attack on the AFC and the party takes a dim view of this and calls on the mayor to immediately withdraw her accusations, offer an unqualified apology, and take a more conciliatory approach towards resolving the issue of the widespread rejection of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC)/National Parking Systems (NPS)/Smart City Solutions (SCS) indecent and oppressive contract.”

The AFC said it is unquestionably the initial and continued secrecy, lack of transparency surrounding the contract, the bad negotiating, lack of consultation with the people and poor implementation which are among the main reasons for the widespread rejection of the paid metered parking initiative. It is the view of the party that it is in fact the Mayor, along with the Town Clerk and those who were secretly involved in negotiating and signing off on this sordid contract who must take responsibility rather than seek to cast blame elsewhere.

“On this the 2nd anniversary of the signing of the Cummingsburg Accord, the AFC reaffirms its commitment to the APNU+AFC Coalition and working towards achieving the good life for all Guyanese. The party however will not take lightly, disrespect and attacks such as that essayed by Mayor Green on its councillors, leaders or members. The AFC re-commits to continuing its work in the M&CC through its duly elected councillors and with all parties to ensure that the citizens of our capital city are afforded the best representation and services.”
Meanwhile, only recently the AFC called for the implementation of the project to be suspended until pertinent issues are addressed. “…with regard to the publicly expressed concerns, the party strongly implores the M&CC [Mayor and City Council] to suspend the implementation of this project…” the statement read. AFC said that it recognises the autonomy of the M&CC as the duly elected representatives of Georgetown and the M&CC’s legal right to regularise parking in Georgetown and raise revenue to better manage the affairs of the city.

However, the party called for the local government body to reconsider pertinent aspects of the Ministry of Finance’s review of the project and seek a second independent review of its contract with National Parking Systems (NPS)/Smart City Solutions (SCS) – the companies contracted to manage and operate the parking meters. On Monday Chase-Green announced that by Friday, City Hall is likely to announce officially that the rates for use of the parking meters have been slashed by half. This means that citizens will now pay $100 plus VAT per hour. As it stands before the official announcement, Chase-Green clarified that motorists are still required to pay for the spaces, but will not be booted if they overstay their time.