The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) is planning to review the amended parking meter by-laws and make its concerns known to the City Council and the Government.
At a press conference hosted by members of the GCCI and the Movement Against Parking Meters (MAPM) today, both parties expressed the belief that before the project is re-introduced, there needs to be a proper feasibility study which will determine costs and other factors.
The amended parking meter by-laws were approved on April 4, 2018 by a majority vote by the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, just over one year since it was suspended with immediate effect by the Government.
The GCCI President said the body will review the amended by-laws within the 14 days provided and will send its objections to the Council and Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan.
“That kind of number, in terms of reduction in sales, hurts businesses. We as a chamber are representing businesses and are concerned when that happens,” he noted.
MAPM organizer, Marcel Gaskin noted that the council by making amendments is attempting to fix a flawed process. He noted that the movement’s position remains much the same.
“We are against the manner in which these parking meters were implemented, against the manner in which they were foisted upon the citizens –with disastrous consequences,” he said.
Gaskin told the media that the movement is prepared to mount large protests as it did last year if the project is again implemented.
Another member of the GCCI, Nicholas Boyer pointed out that businesses suffer the most from the paid parking in the city as a decrease in customers leads to a decrease in revenue.
In March 2017, upon suspending the project, the Government had asked the council to review the contract with Smart City Solutions which had caused widespread protests over lack of transparency. This led to a renegotiated project and amended by-laws which have to be signed into effect by the Government.
