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First parking meter arrives in city Contractor insists the rate $125 for 15 mins parking

By: Shenice Blackman, Jun 30, 2016 News, http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....for-15-mins-parking/

 The first parking meter arrived in Guyana on Tuesday. It is now available for demonstration at the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC), Avenue of the Republic.

Tiffany Porter, an employee with Smart City Solution provided a demonstration yesterday on how the parking meter system will work and how people would be billed.

When asked about security, she stated that the machine is not one that uses actual cash. Instead it uses a debit card which can be bought at gas stations around the city.

Ifa Kamau Cush and two employees of Smart City Solution

Ifa Kamau Cush and two employees of Smart City Solution

The meter would be charging $125 for 15 minutes of parking. Persons can purchase more than 15 minutes of parking. Remaining parking minutes will be rolled over. A week ago, Mayor Chase-Green said that the final costs for using the meters are still being negotiated. She was certain that the drivers would definitely not have to pay $500 per hour as is being reported.

However, the Smart City employee sang another tune yesterday.

The controversial parking meter project is expected to be implemented by September. Despite objections from the Attorney General’s Chambers and Ministry of Finance, the Council appears to be pushing ahead with the project.

An employee demonstrates use of parking meter to a concerned citizen

An employee demonstrates use of parking meter to a concerned citizen

It has been disclosed by Mayor Patricia Green-Chase and Chief Executive Officer of National Parking Systems, Ifa Kamau Cush, that although NPS and its partner, Smart City Solutions, will set up the parking meters, Council will be tasked with training and employing 100 Guyanese to maintain the system. The document evidently endorsed by Smart City Solutions boasted that the project will provide more jobs and reduce traffic congestion in the city.

Once the operation commences 20% of the proceeds will go to City Hall, while the remaining 80% will go to the investors. However, the investors are the ones who would be responsible for the maintenance of the meters.

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The parking meter deal …UK envoy knocks City Hall for lack of transparency, arrogance

Jun 24, 2016 News,, By Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell, http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....nsparency-arrogance/

β€œIt takes great strength and character to say sorry whenever you are wrong and offer comfort to the public by saying how you are going to make it right”- Quinn

Sticking faithfully to the principles the United Kingdom has been known to abide by, High Commissioner Greg Quinn has weighed in on issues surrounding the parking meters deal. The envoy opined that there is much to be desired.

Kaieteur News yesterday conducted an exclusive interview with Quinn that covered a range of matters.

UK High Commissioner, Greg Quinn

UK High Commissioner, Greg Quinn

Speaking specifically on the parking meters controversy, the envoy touched on three issues identified in the media which he said do not comply with the standards that a transparent and democratic council should hold for itself. The envoy pointed to the lack of transparency; the lack of a democratic process in Council deliberations and the fact that in the face of it all, the public was told that no apologies will be offered.

Britain, the United States and Canada had strongly lobbied for the holding of Local Government Elections (LGE) that was absent in Guyana for over two decades. The ABC countries repeatedly called for LGEs as they held out that it is imperative for a State to make sure that democracy exists at all levelsβ€”Central and Local Government.

LGEs were held in March. Three months later, Kaieteur News asked Quinn whether he feels democracy is alive in the newly-elected City Council. The diplomat did not offer a yes or no answer in this regard. However, his response pointed out the lack of a key principle of democracy.
Inclusiveness is the main pillar of a strong democracy. The UK High Commissioner told Kaieteur News yesterday that all members of the council should be included in the decision-making processes.

Deputy Mayor, Sherod Duncan had told the media that he was largely left in the dark about the parking meter deal. It has been reported that the contract for the project was not circulated to members of the council.

Quinn said that fundamentally, β€œEvery member of the Georgetown Council has the right to an opportunity to give his or her say on everything that the council does.”

The High Commissioner said that councillors should always be highly informed as ultimately every member of the council would be held responsible for everything the council does. β€œTherefore I would expect the council to operate in an open manner and to consult with all the councillors,” said Quinn.

The envoy added that decisions should only flow from processes that involve consultation.

PRIVATE CONTRACT
At a recent press conference, Mayor Patricia Chase- Green told the media that she is not prepared to release the contract to the public out of fear that the parking meter idea would be stolen. The Mayor did not point finger as to whom she was worried would steal the idea.

Quinn said that the Council has to recognize the need for transparency.

He said that Chase-Green β€œmay have a good reason for not publishing the contract. But I think if there is a reason, it needs to be made clear.”

Quinn said that good reasons for not wanting to make the contract public should harmonize with reasons usually offered by world leaders for keeping the public in the dark about a particular issue.

β€œAs I said, she (Chase-Green) may have a reason, but she needs to supply a little more detail to make it come across clearly,” the High Commissioner stressed.

Quinn said that even if good enough reason exists as to why Chase-Green may want to withhold the contract from the public, Councillors still need to be informed.

NO APOLOGIES
Turning his attention to the β€œno apologies” statement made by Chairman of the Finance Committee, Oscar Clarke, Quinn said that those words should not be used by a public official.

As he addressed concerns made about the project and his trip to Mexico, Clarke said, β€œI have no apologies to make to anyone. I getting like Mr. Harmon.” Minister of State Joseph Harmon had expressed similar sentiments when asked about the salary increases given to Ministers who had spent just a few months in office.

Quinn said, β€œI don’t think you should ever say you would not or don’t have to apologize for anything.”

Further, Quinn said that public officials are given a glorious opportunity anytime they are allowed to apologize to the public.

β€œI think, in fact, it is a mark of your strength if you are willing to apologize whenever you do things. By apologizing, you demonstrate to the population that you are strong. It takes great strength and character to say sorry whenever you are wrong and offer comfort to the public in saying how you are going to make it right,” said Quinn.

The issues surrounding the impending implementation of parking meters in the City are becoming endless. The main issue, however, is the fact that the contract is being kept private.

FM

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