AFC calls for suspension of Parking meter project; Calls out M&CC on overreaching its authority

Following the unsuccessful efforts by AFC member and Deputy Mayor of the Georgetown Municipality, Sherod Duncan to stop the implementation of the Parking meter project, the party came out on Tuesday calling for its suspension.

In a statement, the Alliance For Change (AFC) which forms part of the coalition government, it said while it recognizes the autonomy of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), the system does not appear to be in the best interest of citizens.

“The AFC is of the view that the current arrangements do not appear to be in the best interest of the people of the city” the AFC said.

It was noted that the party has raised its concerns through Deputy Mayor, but is concerned that the implementation has advanced without much compromise.

“ The party therefore registers its serious concern with regard to the handling of this project from its inception to its current stage but specifically in terms of the lack of sufficient prior public consultation; the absence of transparency and of a competitive bidding process; the seeming lack of proper planning with regard to exemptions and the pricing and penalty structures” the statement outlined.

As such, “the party strongly implores the M&CC to suspend the implementation of this project and to: reconsider the pertinent aspects of the Ministry of Finance’s review of the project and seek a second independent review of its contract with GEO Park/Smart City Solutions.”

Further, the party is suggesting that the municipality may have overreached its authority on a number of matters including taxation arrangements, traffic arrangements and road ownership.

The party views this “with alarm as it does the apparent exclusivity and monopolization of paid metered parking in the city.”