Dear Editor,
FROM all appearances, the ‘Horrible Green Monster’ seems to be getting ready to rear its ugly head again. And by this I mean that the infamous parking meter albatross appears to be getting set for an unwelcome return to the streets of our beloved capital.

Let me say from the very outset, and from the perspective of the vast majority of citizenry, that our position has not changed an iota. Indeed, if anything, we are now even stronger and more resolute in our opposition to the deployment of this dastardly imposition.
The suspension and review by a ‘Kangaroo Committee’ consisting of handpicked members of the very Council that imposed this millstone around the necks of our motorists, is nothing more than a sham and mockery of the concerns expressed and indeed, is just simply double jeopardy. Were the citizens not entitled to the review process being undertaken by a competent, independent and impartial committee?

It should be noted that the review process and submission of the findings are equally shrouded in secrecy and mystery as the original and scandalous arrangements were. Apparently, the Georgetown municipality just cannot be transparent, forthright and accountable to the citizenry. But even more egregious is the media report that the findings have been handed over to the mayor and town clerk for them to study.

How in the world could the mayor, who is a retired nurse, and the town clerk whose forte is communications and public relations, be expected to examine, evaluate and pronounce on these findings when they both lack the legal, technical and administrative capacity, competence and experience to pronounce on parking meters. Indeed, even the committee that undertook the review sorely lacks the wherewithal to properly understand the ramifications of and to articulate positions on the parking meters.

It is time for this parking meter nonsense to be stopped once and for all by the government, by interested stakeholders and the public at large. The Councillors’ time would be better spent ordering the town clerk on his long overdue vacation leave on which he is refusing to proceed for reasons best known to him, and in examining ways of reducing the Council’s enormous, excessive and unnecessary expenditure in order to dig themselves out of their perennial state of bankruptcy.

Regards
Mateo Phelepe