Government finally sinks parking meter deal

Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan signed a new order Tuesday suspending the Parking Meter Project as of today for a period of three months. Bulkan’s order followed deliberations by Cabinet which ultimately instructed him to formally suspend the operation of the by-laws governing the parking meter project with immediate effect. In addition, Cabinet also instructed Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan to advise the Commissioner of Police to ensure that as of today, citizens and their vehicles would receive the protection of the Guyana Police Force to prevent them and their vehicles from being unduly hindered or restrained in any way whatsoever by the Georgetown City Council and its agents. Minister Bulkan admitted that there was some degree of ambiguity with his initial order directing City Hall to suspend the project. However, he said that this has been cured. He added that the Council was given an order and should have acted accordingly, but failing to do so lead to Cabinet’s decision to formally suspend the project. According to Bulkan in a subsequent statement, City Council would now be advised to inform the company, Smart City Solutions, that paid parking would be suspended. He said that the company would be invited to enter into negotiations, and at that stage, it would be up to the company to determine what its response to the new action of the government would be. This order comes two days after a majority vote by the Georgetown Mayor and City Council sought to defy the advice of Minister Bulkan to suspend the project. Cabinet, two Mondays ago, had requested Bulkan to advise City Hall to suspend the project for three months to facilitate consultations with citizens of Georgetown.

(Kaieteurnews.com)