Parking meter lawsuit: More than US$1M spent on legal expenses

More than US$1 million (or about GY $209 million) has been spent on the legal expenses for the ongoing US$100 million lawsuit filed by the Mexican parking meter company, Smart City Solutions.

This was noted by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall SC on Saturday. He spoke during his ministry’s yearend press conference.

“That’s the liability we inherited and in many, many cases we have been shouldered with this type of liability,” Nandlall lamented.

The legal battle traces back to a controversial contract signed in May 2016 by the Georgetown Mayor and City Council with Smart City Solutions for the paid parking system.

Despite the parking meters becoming operational in January 2017, the initiative faced intense opposition from the private sector, citizens, and members of the opposition. The project was subsequently halted by the APNU+AFC government following public outcry.

The company later filed the US$100 million lawsuit.

Previously, Nandlall said the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration was consistently against the parking meter deal. Nandlall pointed out that the PPP/C, then in opposition, had actively protested the contract.

At his Saturday presser, the Attorney General noted that the hearings in the matter have been ongoing. In July 2025, Guyana will be tasked with leading evidence in the defence of the claim. Witnesses, Nandlall said, will be taken abroad to speak about the matter.