While Central Govern-ment is taking a hands off approach to the implementation of paid parking in Georgetown, the opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has encouraged citizens to boycott the meters.
Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman was asked at yesterday’s post-cabinet press briefing whether central government was staying abreast of the developments related to the paid parking and if it was prepared to intervene since citizens seem to have rejected the project which was implemented with no consultation.
In response, Trotman said that it would be irresponsible for government to intervene at this stage since it has no intention to reach its hand into local democratic organs to direct or influence them.
Reminding of the two reviews of the parking meter contract conducted by the Ministries of Finance and Legal Affairs, Trotman said “cabinet has not removed its interest in this matter. At the same time we are very aware that local democracy needs a level of autonomy.”
He explained that for now central government is taking a wait and see approach.
“I believe that cabinet will continue to observe but will only intervene if it is imperative to do so. In so far as more consultations are concerned I would say…consultations are never enough in the sense that there is always going to be an interest group that feels it has been omitted but the idea of parking meters has been a live one for many months and I believe we would have to await to see how it would be implemented,” Trotman said.
He noted that the visual of empty streets since the launch of paid parking says a lot; that people’s voices must be heard and only time will tell what the outcome of the project will be.
“Government will broker compromises where they are imperative [but] for now we prefer to observe and see how the results unfold. The council was democratically elected and we trust that they will make decisions that are in the best interest of their constituents,” he said.
Meanwhile, the PPP in a press statement said that the implementation of parking meters in the City of Georgetown is the latest blow inflicted upon the Nation by the Government.
“Against the backdrop of a declining economy, rising cost of living and the imposition by the Government of over two hundred … new tax measures and increases in public licences fees in one calendar year, the parking meters will add even greater economic, financial and social hardships upon the backs of the citizens, especially those living, working or visiting the City of Georgetown,” the statement argued.
The statement charged that the implementation of parking meters will lead “to significant decline in business and commerce in Georgetown because, obviously, persons would prefer to conduct their business elsewhere in order to avoid paying to park in the City.”
It also directly blames central government for the project stating that attempts by government “to distance itself from this project from the inception blaming it on the Mayor and City Council” was a desperate charade ripped apart when it became known that the project could only become operational once the by-laws governing its operation were signed by Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan.
“We take this opportunity, also, to highlight the absolute lack of transparency and accountability which surround this project. This contractor was hand-picked by the Mayor and the Town Clerk and this contract was not the subject of any public procurement process, whatsoever.
To date, the terms and conditions of this contract have not yet been made public nor has it been approved or even seen by Councilors on the City Council. This contract reeks of cronyism and corruption. In the circumstances, we call upon the Government to scrap this parking meter project,” the statement says.
