Dear Editor
It is a total shame and disgrace for our policymakers and leaders to introduce and implement parking meters in Georgetown. There are so many Caribbean countries made up of over one million people which can fit into our Dadanawah Ranch in the Rupununi and do not have any parking meters. I have been travelling to Boa Vista in Brazil for over 40 years, which has over one million people in the city, and have not seen any parking meters. We have 83,000 square miles, less than one million people and cannot find parking space; Shame. It was defended that the parking meters will bring economic benefits to enhance Georgetown.
I do want to believe that some of our leaders and policymakers studied economics in Sunday Schools. How can economic benefits enhance Georgetown when 80 per cent of the total money collected from our taxpayers for parking is going into the pockets of a foreign company, who cares nothing about our city, country or people.
I do not believe that parking meters can ever enhance Georgetown. The many, many millions of US dollars spent on parking meters could have been spent to enhance Georgetown. If that money was spent wisely in the city to clean up all those useless parapets, and other waste space in the city, we all will have enough space to park, employments created and our money remain in the country. Everyone will be happy. If those fifty-odd non-productive people called city police can be diverted to prevent crimes and robberies in the city, Georgetown will then look beautiful.
Think about the amount of money spent on those city police and what are they saving the city on a monthly basis. Someone said that a lot of people pay much more to park in private parking areas than Smart City Solutions fees; that may be true.
Let’s take a quick look at the pros and cons.
A person wants to go into a commercial bank in Georgetown, pay $200 for one hour thinking that is enough time. When he enters the bank he is faced with a very long line; he joins the line hoping to finish in time. Unfortunately, he spends some more time to complete his business, all this time in deep stress about parking meters. When he comes out he finds his vehicle clamped, more stress; he has to get another vehicle or call a taxi to take him to the competent authority, pay a hefty fine, get a release for his vehicle; get another taxi to take him back to his vehicle. That is what I call a total waste of productive time, waste of money and a bundle of stress.
Please remembers, stress reduces your immune system which can make you sick.
Private pay parks: An attendant is present, you leave your car, the time is checked; when you come back out, your vehicle is safe, you pay on the spot for the time your car was left in the park; you drive away and go about your business immediately. No stress, wasted of money,or time.
Fixed pay parking: For many years during the PPP rule, we paid $200 to park our vehicles at the Timehri Airport Park. During the last 20 months an increase by 150 percent, no one complained, you wait at the airport until your family or friends arrive, you drive away no clamping no fines, no waste of time.
Remember shortly after the 2015 elections we were asked to pay 100 per cent increase on fitness and licenses to use our roads, not to mention the many millions of dollars government is collecting on import duties and taxes on every vehicle, except for few special people. Also every gallon fuel consumed, taxes are collected.
The contract: SCS says that the contract was signed before the feasibility studies were done. Are we to believe that SCS and the City Council did not fully know what they were signing for?
SCS is a business company. Their main focus and interest is to full their pockets to the max and safeguard their business. City Council and our leaders are put into positions to protect our city, our people and our country. But this contract seems to be a disgraceful sell out of our city and people because SCS is given all the leverage on the contract and City Hall and our people are left holding the sword by the blade.
I do hope this is not a kick back deal because when you see our supposedly intelligent policymakers giving to foreigners all the leverage and don’t care about our own taxpayer, somethings is not right. My dear leaders and councillors my advice to you is to tighten your belts, cut your losses and send those parking meters back where they came from before it’s too late. Our people seem to be very desperate defending their rights.
Ed. Singh
Lethem