The equipment for the first phase of the installation of the National Parking System/Smart City Solutions (NPS/SCS) Metered Parking System in Georgetown has already arrived and SCS plans to begin installation of the first phase of 3,400 spaces in November, “once there is no unexpected delay in the clearance of the equipment.”
Public Relations consultant for NPS/SCS Kit Nascimento explained to Stabroek News that NPS/SCS will be investing US$10 Million for a full scale roll out of 400 state-of-the-art multi-space parking meters.
These meters will include Strada Evolution parking meters and Strada Bank Note Acceptor parking meters manufactured by Parkeon, the leading global manufacturer of parking meters and related analytical and monitoring platforms.
When these meters are installed they will cover the city’s main commercial district from Water to Camp streets and from Quamina Street to Hadfield Street. The contractor has however committed to further informing the public of the operations of the system and the location of the meters prior to the commencement of the installation.
The contract between NPS/SCS and the administration of the city of Georgetown has since its signing been the source of several controversies. A primary concern having been the fact that the city never placed a public tender for the project. This oversight directly contravenes municipal procurement regulations.
Section 231 of the Municipal and District Councils Act, specifically states that before entering into any contract for the execution of any work or the supply of any goods to the value of $250,000, or more, a council is required to give notice of such proposed contract and “shall by such notice invite any person willing to undertake the same to submit a sealed tender thereof to the council….”
Following the widespread public concern generated by this oversight, government ordered that a review be done to ascertain if there were any irregularities.
Two reviews were done on the deal: one by the Ministry of Finance and the other by the Attorney-General’s Chambers. The Ministry of Finance’s review scathingly criticized the deal saying that government procurement rules may have been transgressed while the AG’s review said the terms highly favour the contractor.
The reviews however did not find the contract to be illegal and central government recommended only that the city renegotiate the contract after seeking the advice of an accountant.
This recommendation was followed and several amendments made to the contract were presented to the full council on August 29. These amendments include the reduction of the length of the contract to 20 years as opposed to the 49 years in the original contract as well as a reduction of the parking tariff which was “up to $125” per 15-minute interval but has been reduced to $50 per 15 minutes
The amendments were formally approved at a council statutory meeting on September 26, 2016 after which Town Clerk Royston King signed the contract on behalf of the city.
