Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Mar 23, 2017 Letters
Dear Editor,
It is a total shame, and disgrace for our policy makers, and leaders to introduce, and implement parking meters in Georgetown. There are so many Caribbean countries made up of over one million people which can fit into our Dadanawah Ranch in the Rupununi and do not have any parking meters. I have been travelling to Boa Vista in Brazil, for over forty years, which has over one million people in the city, and have not seen any parking meters. We have eighty three thousand square miles, less than one million people, and cannot find parking space. SHAME! It was argued, that the parking meters will bring economic benefits to enhance Georgetown.
I do want to believe that some of our land policy makers study economics in Sunday Schools. How can economic benefits enhance Georgetown, when eighty percent of the total money collected from our tax payers for parking is going into the pockets of a foreign company who cares nothing about our city, country or people?
I do not believe that parking meters can ever enhance Georgetown. The many, many millions of U.S dollars spent on parking meters could have been spent to enhance Georgetown. If that money was spent wisely in the city, to clean up all those useless parapets, and other wasted space in the city, we would all have enough space to park, employment created, and our money would remain in the country, thus making everyone happy. If those fifty odd nonproductive people called city police can be diverted to prevent crimes and robberies in the city, Georgetown will then look beautiful.
Think about the amount of money spent on those city police, and what are they saving the city on a monthly basis. Someone said that a lot of people pay much more to park in private parking areas, than smart city solution fees; that may be true. Let’s take a quick look at the pros and cons.
A person goes into a commercial bank in Georgetown pays two hundred dollars for one hour, thinking that is enough time. When he enters the bank, he is faced with a very long line. He joins the line hoping to finish in time; unfortunately, he spends more time than planned to complete his business. All the time worrying about parking meters. When he exits the bank, he finds his vehicle clamped, more stress. He has to get another vehicle, or call a taxi to take him to the competent authority, pay a hefty fine, get a release for his vehicle, get another taxi to take him back to his vehicle. That is what I call a total waste of productive time; waste of money, and a bundle of STRESS.
Please remember, stress reduces your immune system, which can make you SICK. Private parking is different. An attendant is present, you leave your car, the time is checked; when you come back out , your vehicle is safe , you pay on the spot for the time your car was left in the park; you drive away and go about your business immediately. No stress, waste of money or time.
Let’s look at fixed pay parking: For many years during the PPP rule, we paid $200 to park our vehicles at the Timehri Airport Park. During the last twenty months an increase by one hundred and fifty percent, no one complained. You wait at the airport, until your family or friends arrive; you drive away, no clamping, no fines, and no waste of time.
Remember shortly after the 2015 elections, we were asked to pay, a one hundred percent increase, on fitness, and licences to use our roads; not to mention the many millions of dollars government is collecting on import duties and taxes on every vehicle, except for few special people. Also on every gallon of fuel consumed, taxes are collected. Smart City says that the contract was signed before the feasibility studies were done; are we to believe that Smart City and the City Council did not fully know what they were signing for?
Smart City is a business company. Their main focus and interest is to full their pockets to the MAX and safeguard their business. City Council and our Leaders are there to protect our city, our people, and our country. But this contract seems to be a disgraceful sell out of our city, and people, because Smart City is given all the leverage on the contract, and City Hall and our people are left holding the sword by the blade. I do hope this is not a kick-back deal, because when you witness our supposedly intelligent policy makers, giving all the leverage to foreigners and disreagrding their own taxpayers, something is not right. My dear leaders and councillors my advice to you is to tighten your belts, cut your losses, and send those parking meters back where they came from, before it’s too late. Our people seem to be very desperate defending their rights.
Ed. Singh
Lethem
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
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