–Renegotiating team granted extension

ONE single resident from the parking meter zone turned up for consultations on the day that was set aside by the team renegotiating the deal made between the City Council and Smart City Solutions (SCS).
This was the most disheartening moment for Councillor Malcolm Ferreira, who was tasked with heading the committee that is conducting the negotiations. He said so on Monday while providing an update on the committee’s work so far.

What is more, minibus and taxi drivers, too, have not cooperated as much as they should have when consultations were planned with them.

Speaking at the Council’s fortnightly statutory meeting at City Hall, Ferreira said even after a poor turnout from this group, the committee sought to set up a tent at the Stabroek Market Square and went around to personally invite persons to share their concerns.

“The taxi drivers responded, and I am left to conclude that most minibus drivers are so busy with the hustle that they can’t take a few minutes to make a contribution, or they simply don’t care,” Ferreira said, adding:
“The response from drivers was nothing near the amount that should have been present, given the fact that traffic management directly affects their livelihood.”

According to him, the committee went even further by producing a questionnaire and going to the various bus and car parks to speak with the drivers individually for three days.

“The vast majority is of the opinion that something has to be done to correct the current traffic situation in Georgetown,” he noted.

The committee also conducted two evenings of house-to-house consultations with residents in the metered zones.

“We completed 345 questionnaires,” Ferreira said. “A little over 50 per cent of the taxi and bus drivers we spoke to do not live in Georgetown, and 35 per cent do not own their own vehicles.

“It is sad but true that the public transportation system seems to be running on its own, more so than being controlled. It is up to us now to fix the whole system of transportation arrangements and allocation, as the simple truth is that there are more buses and cars than space is available on the parks. Hot plate is a major issue.”

He said the committee plans to finish up its house-to-house consultations, have a two-day business walkabout, and to consult with representatives of differently-abled organisations, as well as the council’s legal team.

While the committee is still waiting on a response from the Ministries of Legal Affairs and Finance, it intends to also consult with the commissioner of police, the traffic chief, and the minister of public infrastructure.

Since a lot of work remains to be done, the Council voted in favour of Ferreira’s request for one month’s extension to continue negotiations.

Communities Minister, Ronald Bulkan had communicated Cabinet’s decision for a 90-day suspension of the metered parking system, but the town clerk had opted to go after legal advice to challenge the minister’s order, resulting in a majority vote by city councillors to put such an order on hold.

Minister Bulkan was subsequently directed by Cabinet to immediately suspend operation of the by-laws, which govern the project.

The City Council thereafter approved a seven-member team to negotiate a revised parking meter contract with SCS, the company to which City Hall granted the concession to install meters in the city.

Councillor Ferreira was elected chairman of the team that comprises Councillors Noelle Chow-Chee, Carlyle Goring, Tricia Richards, Ivelaw Henry, Roopnarine Persaud and Heston Bostwick.