Dear Editor,
The parking meter project in the capital city of Georgetown has charges which are too steep and incurs penalties which are too high, especially for working-class Guyanese. The explanations by the authorities for parking prices of over $200 an hour and $8000 penalties are baffling. It is recognised that cities in developing countries are growing faster, their economies are larger and the cost of sustaining various public services is greater than in the past. This necessitates the imposition of several revenue enhancing measures. While the parking meter project in Georgetown is one such alternative, it must be executed in a rational manner. Clearly the prices for parking are too high here in comparison with many other countries, especially in light of our income per capita. Moreover, there seems to have been scanty analysis done prior to this project being implemented, as evidenced by the plethora of unused parking spots. The parking meter prices not only have far-reaching consequences for those who provide goods and services to and from and within the city, but also for families who traverse to and from the city on a daily basis.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
