Paid Parking: Revoke contract, implement transparent process- MAPM, GCCI

The Executive Management of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) recently met with representatives from the Movement Against Parking Meters (MAPM) for a discussion about the issues surrounding the controversial Parking Meter Agreement between the Georgetown Mayor & City Council (M&CC) and Smart City Solutions (SCS), and the recent public announcement by Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan that Parking Meters ‘are here to stay’ in Guyana.

Bulkan was quoted on a televised news broadcast saying that ” I think it should be understood that Cabinet has not said that it is against an initiative of this nature but is seeking a renegotiation that would allow for a more equitable formula at the end of the day.”

He said further that while Government will not seek to violate the autonomy that is granted to the Council under the constitution and ‘that in principle it is not opposed to paid parking’ they have acknowledged “that the terms of the contract are disproportionately in favour of the concessionaire and that the fees were too burdensome.”

Apart from the areas outlined by Government the MAPM and GCCI outlined several areas of contentions, some of which include the “lack of evidence of any economic/ social impact assessment done prior to the implementation of the agreement between M&CC and SCS,” the “absence of any evidence to demonstrate that the tendering process used in the selection and award of the contract to SCS was fair and transparent,” and the “discourteous, often belligerent manner in which the SCS operatives go about enforcing parking restrictions” among many others.

Moreover, pursuant to the suspension of paid parking by Central Government pending a review,  both GCCI and MAPM  have requested  “details regarding which stakeholders and organizations the M&CC will be consulting during the consultations process and a timetable of this” among others.

Both parties firmly believe that the contract should be revoked and are calling for a more fair and transparent arrangement to be implemented for paid parking once the veil of suspension is lifted.

See full statement below:

On Wednesday, 29 March 2017, Executive Management of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) met with representatives from the Movement Against Parking Meters (MAPM) for a discussion about the issues surrounding the controversial Parking Meter Agreement between the Georgetown Mayor & City Council (M&CC) and Smart City Solutions (SCS), and the recent public announcement by Minister of Communities, Mr. Ronald Bulkan’s that Parking Meters ‘are here to stay’ in Guyana.

The GCCI used the opportunity to brief MAPM about its (GCCI) own research which reflected a significant downturn in economic activity directly as a result of the introduction of paid parking among others issues  in the Central Business District of Georgetown and its members’ ongoing concerns about the planned phased roll out of metered parking in Georgetown.

Several current and pertinent issues were discussed at the meeting between the GCCI and MAPM and these included:

• lack of evidence of any economic/ social impact assessment done prior to the implementation of the agreement between M&CC and SCS

• the absence of any feasibility studies done on the project prior to its implementation

• the blatant failures to adhere to the Public Procurement process – clear indications that the procurement regulations of both the M&CC and the Government of Guyana have been breached

• no provisions made for concessionary parking for persons affected by disabilities

• the discourteous, often belligerent manner in which the SCS operatives go about enforcing parking restrictions

• questions about SCS’s record and experience of managing parking meter systems anywhere in the world before coming to Guyana and of  the numerous operational issues that have emerged attesting to the inexperience and general disorganization of SCS in implementing a Parking Meter system

• VAT is being charged on penalties imposed under the parking rules In other words a Fine plus tax on that Fine.

• the complete lack of transparency in the process

• failure to demonstrate thorough and comprehensive consultation with the people of Guyana

• failure by the M&CC to make public all Feasibility Studies conducted

• failure by the M&CC to make public all reports ,minutes etc. from stakeholders’ meetings held prior to the implementation of the parking meter project with SCS

• absence of any evidence to demonstrate that the tendering process used in the selection and award of the contract to SCS was fair and transparent

• the absence of comprehensive details regarding the timetable for consultations following the suspension of the contract between M&CC and SCS

• the absence of any details regarding which stakeholders and organizations the M&CC will be consulting during the consultations process

• reasonable calls by members of the public for a comprehensive audit of the Georgetown Mayor & City Council by independent auditors

The GCCI requests that the M&CC and the Government of Guyana make public disclosure of the following documents related to the imposition of parking meters in Georgetown:

1. Evidence to demonstrate that the tendering process used in the selection and award of the contract to SCS was fair and transparent.

2. Make public all reports, minutes etc. from stakeholders’ meetings held prior to the implementation of the parking meter project with SCS.

3. Details regarding which stakeholders and organizations the M&CC will be consulting during the consultations process and a timetable of this.

4. Evidence to demonstrate that the tendering process used in the selection and award of the contract to SCS was fair and transparent.

Albeit, the GCCI welcomes the suspension of the Parking Meter Contract, the GCCI nevertheless supports the MAPM’s position and strongly calls on the M&CC and the Government of Guyana to immediately revoke the current parking meter contract between the SCS and the M&CC.

The GCCI further calls on the Government of Guyana and the M&CC to implement a fair and transparent process that involves all stakeholders with regard to the procurement and introduction of a parking system in Georgetown that would address traffic congestion.

Representatives from the GCCI will be conducting another outreach to Businesses operating in the Central Business District of Georgetown on Wednesday, 5 April 2017 from 13:30.