Court orders city to defend parking contract

A court has ordered the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to defend their controversial deal with Smart City Solutions (SCS) for the Georgetown metered parking system or face having it declared invalid. Acting Chief Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards yesterday granted an order asking the M&CC and Town Clerk Royston King to show cause why its decision to enter into an agreement with SCS and to make amendments to that agreement for the setting up of parking meters in Georgetown, should not be quashed. The Chief Justice has also called on the council and Town Clerk to show cause why the decision authorising the Town Clerk to sign and operationalise contracts with SCS for the establishment of parking meters in Georgetown and all acts flowing from that decision should not be similarly quashed. The order was granted based on an application for a judicial review that was made on behalf of Mohendra Arjune, a conveyancing clerk attached to the Cameron and Shepherd law firm.