Penalties on hold until new parking rates

Booting and other penalty aspects of metered parking in Georgetown have been suspended as a new rate structure is being developed, government announced yesterday, while the Mayor issued an invitation to the group that organised protests against the meters for talks. At a post-Cabinet press briefing, Minister of State Joseph Harmon yesterday announced the suspension, which he said came as a result of central government intervention at a meeting on Wednesday with Mayor Patricia ChaseGreen. Clamping of vehicles which were in violation of metered parking has incensed members of the public since the launch of the system on January 23. Booting costs $8,000 plus VAT of 14%. The parking fee of $50 per 15 minutes plus VAT has been widely criticised as too expensive. Contractor Smart City Solutions’ Public Relations Consultant Kit Nascimento explained to Stabroek News yesterday that the Mexican parking meter company and the Mayor and City Council “plan to announce a new rate structure next week, and have agreed that until such time as the new rate structure is announced, that there will be a moratorium in respect of immobilisation enforcement activities.”