Deputy Mayor protests City’s Parking Meter Project

Today, the day which the City’s Parking Meter Project was scheduled to be rolled out, Deputy Mayor; Sherod Duncan has taken to the streets to protest the project.

Duncan, who over the past months has made his views on the project known, is currently in the Carmichael Street avenue between the Bishops’ High School and the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre, parking meters were placed in front of both institutions without regard for the teachers and persons with disabilities. This concern was previously raised by the National Commission on Disability and the Guyana Teachers Union.

He noted that “the parking meter project has been the most hurriedly processed and chaotic in the execution of projects in modern history (and)… leaves much to be desired.”

Among his concerns which he highlighted on his social media page, Duncan said there seems to have been little meaningful consultation with the Traffic Department of the Guyana Police Force, given recent comments about parking spaces placed too close to corners in breach of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act Cap. 51:02. and the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Regulations.

He also highlighted that little consideration seems to have been paid to vendors in some areas like Water Street and taxi drivers, teachers, students and parents.

During an interview with News Room earlier today (Monday, January 23, 2017), Spokesman for Smart City Solutions (SCS), Kit Nascimento said the public would not be charged for parking since the by-laws have not been signed off.

According to Communities Minister, Ronald Bulkan, he only received the by-laws on Friday (January 20, 2017). He said the legal department of his ministry is currently examining the by-laws regarding the Parking Meter System and following the resolution of any clarifications, then City hall will be given the green light.