Dear Editor,
Some of my concerns regarding the parking meter contract are:
Can the overseas based SCS or the city council raise the rates when he/she so desires?
Given the high pace of technological changes in city management has the city council taken into consideration the obsolescence of the said meters and the possibilities of mobile solutions in the next, say, decade. Will the overseas based contractor upgrade the meters or adapt to these changes?
With a meagre 20 per cent revenue taking, what is the net revenue after maintenance, enforcement, replacements, marketing, etc, that the city council will gain. This may very well be under 10 per cent earnings.
Retailers are currently facing many challenges, such as high real estate costs, increased crime, periodic flooding, an unreliable electrical supply, vendors blocking sidewalks/entrances, smuggled goods, cheap Asian imports and recently, online shopping. The negative impact of the parking meters on their sales has been significant. This rollout of the parking meter may result in workers joining the breadline.
This deal may be the largest service oriented exporter of foreign currency in Guyana. Will this impact our exchange rate?
During the local government elections no mention of parking meters was made by APNU+AFC would-be councillors who visited businesses and homes to solicit our votes. To spring this upon the citizens borders on deception. It is clear that APNU+AFC is willing to let the city hang this secret contract around the necks of our future generation. Not what we expected!
Yours faithfully,
Marcus Craig
