City Hall and the Ministry of Communities are not on the same page regarding the suspension of the parking meter project.
The pressure is piling on City Hall, this time from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, which has stated that permission was not granted for parking meters along roads it controls.
This development comes days after Cabinet recommended the suspension of the parking meter contract for three months calling for further consultations and a full review of the contract.
Government’s decision was addressed to Town Clerk Royston King and the acting City Mayor Sherrod Duncan.
King has come out in defiance of government’s recommendation saying is not possible and it would be a breach of the agreement signed with the company.
Town Clerk, Royston King
King posited that situation will create a development where Smart City Solutions (SCS) would have to be reimbursed all of its investment.
Now city Hall is caught with its back against the wall because of the contract signed with the (SCS). there are reports that the contract in over US10Million. Should City Hall back out they would have to repay the full sum plus a 15% of it multiply by the number of years remaining in the 20-year arrangement.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure has said it wishes to advise the general public that in accordance with the Roads Act, Chapter 51:01 of the Laws of Guyana, the following roads within the city of Georgetown, have been declared to be public roads and therefore fall strictly under the purview of the Ministry:
- Clive Lloyd Drive
- Rupert Craig Highway
- University of Guyana Access
- Water Street
- Battery Road
- Sea Wall Road
- Young Street
- Barrack Street
- Camp Road
- Fort Street
- Vlissengen Road
- Irving Street
- Station Street
- Duncan Street
- Thomas Road
- Sheriff Street/Kitty Avenue
- Ruimveldt Avenue
- Houston Bypass
- Eastern Highway
Further, the Ministry wishes to clarify that it has not entered into any agreement neither has it given permission to the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown nor Smart City Solutions to erect parking meters along the aforementioned public roads. The public should, therefore, be guided accordingly.