Several city councillors have said they have not seen the contract reportedly inked between City Hall and National Parking Systems (NPS)/Smart City Solutions for a city parking meters project raising further questions about the controversial venture.
On Saturday, Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan said he could not support the deal, citing, among other things, doubts about the background and capacity of the firms to undertake the venture. He had also highlighted the absence of a contract on the proposed venture.
Last month, Mayor Patricia Chase-Green had announced at the city council’s statutory meeting that a contract was inked with NPS to install parking meters across the city. Subsequently, City Hall announced that the capital would be divided into two and Smart City Solutions Inc would install parking meters in one part and Astrolobe Technology in the other section. After that announcement and a presentation by Astrolobe, the city backtracked and nixed Astrolobe from the project.
Amid the conflicting signals and the unclear nature of the deal, a number of questions have arisen including about the contract. Chase-Green last week told Stabroek News that the city would engage in negotiations on the fees suggesting that not all aspects of the deal had been agreed to as yet.
Yesterday, Stabroek News learnt from reliable sources at City Hall that the majority of the councillors never saw the contract signed between the municipality and NPS. As a result, some councillors said they are unclear on the arrangements made between the council and the company and many questions still remain.
One source said that the only persons who seems to be aware of the contract are Chase-Green, Town Clerk Royston King and councillors Oscar Clarke and Junior Garrett who represent A Partnership for National Unity on the council.
“The contract is a mystery…outside of the four names mentioned, no one else seems to have ever seen it,” said the source.
Another source told Stabroek News that during the presentation by NPS, PPP/C councillor Bisham Kuppen and Duncan were the ones who asked the most questions but some questions were “brushed aside” when they sought clarity.
Stabroek News understands that the councillors were told that they can go to the Town Clerk’s office to view the contract but some did not feel this was a welcoming move. One councillor said the contract should have been presented at the statutory meeting.
Yesterday, this newspaper was told that the Mayor and Town Clerk are currently in Mexico but it is not clear on what business.
