Dear Editor,
The most recent hot point within the City Hall is the installation of parking meters in the City of Georgetown. This proposal has come with innumerable criticisms from certain sections of society. So much so, that there had even been speculation that the company, Smart City Solutions, contracted to install these meters was fictitious. While the concerns of these critics were noted, the council wishes to emphasise that by no means is it attempting to muzzle the public or deliberately conceal information from them. In fact, the council is open to constructive criticism. It is what serves as a tool to remind leaders especially, that they are answerable to the electorate. One of the hallmarks of democracy is in the citizens’ ability to keep their elected leaders accountable. It is the vigour of active engagement and public scrutiny that contributes to effective democracy. But even with this there is not always consensus, and that is true sometimes in many big organisations, and the council is no exception. A few councillors were not in support of installing parking meters. This issue even gained attention at the level of central government through the Ministry of Communities. However, the fact of the matter is that no illicit activities were carried out in the awarding of this contract. The comments of the government and all other concerned parties have been carefully noted and the council will work to institute those recommendations.
Under the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01, the council has the right to establish, maintain and control car parks, erect and maintain parking meters, regulate the standing and parking of vehicles on council roads, erect and maintain traffic control signals and signs on council roads, regulate the speed of vehicles on council roads, designate particular council roads as one-way streets and require all vehicles thereon to move in one specified direction, require vehicles to stop before entering or crossing any council road or yield to other traffic and restrict the use of any council roads to vehicles of specified types or weights.
Again, the parking meter initiative was never intended to be a woe to the public. It is intended to ease the traffic congestion and bring some semblance of order on the city streets. Many modern cities are using parking meters. It is the norm around the world; even some of our very own sister Caribbean states have this system in place and they function exceptionally well. This is why its implementation in Guyana should not be a foreign concept as some may want to make it seem. It is not to keep up with the trend by any means, but it will be used as a starting point to re-organise parking in the city area.
Though it is known that George-town was never intended to accommodate the population it currently boasts, new structures and/or expansions are continuously being erected and more vehicles are on the city streets every day. Over the years, this expansion has been accompanied by the violation, and in many instances, blatant disregard of a number of building code regulations. The consequences amongst many others have been encumbrances on our pavements, lack of parking facilities and compromised drainage systems; with numerous potentials for far-reaching environmental and public health negatives.
Something must be done urgently about the traffic congestion in Georgetown and the metering system is the first step of a wide plan to address this issue. In another few months, this new system will be implemented and the benefits will accrue to the citizens. Like most changes, it will take some time for users to get accustomed to it, but it soon will become a norm. Even as the system will contribute to addressing the traffic congestion issue on our roads, it serves a dual function of earning much needed revenue for the council to better execute its functions. These same revenues will go to the maintenance of the roads, drains, and the provision of vital municipal facilities that are the responsibility of the council.
Residents are being urged to give the system a chance to thrive. In the end there will be no losers as all stand to gain either directly or indirectly. Georgetown is not unique to the challenge of traffic congestion and as such the solution is also not unique. The parking meters will help to greatly reduce the current congestion and indiscriminate parking of some drivers who abuse the streets and parapets of the city. In another few months, a new norm will commence with the use of these meters. The system will work, if only it is given some time to function the way it ought to. After a number of years of ‘lawlessness’ on our roads and in the city, correcting such behaviour is difficult but not impossible. The council is determined to return Georgetown not only to its Garden City acclaim but make it a well organised and functional city of decent law-abiding folks who continue to hold its leaders accountable.
Finally, the council encourages its residents to be alert and uphold their right to question our actions and decisions. As we embark on this new and necessary venture, residents are reminded that there is nothing to fear with the implementation of the parking meter system.
Let us work together to make Georgetown a clean, health and safe city for all of us. Let us strive to make it comparable with the great cities of the world. Let us allow Georgetown to hold its own in this competitive global village.
Yours faithfully,
Royston King
Town Clerk
City of Georgetown