AG office reviewing contract

– as company pushes ahead

Having announced last week that Cabinet has ordered the review of the contract between the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) and Smart City Solutions Inc on the controversial Parking Meter Project, Minister of State Joseph Harmon disclosed on Thursday that this process has commenced.

Speaking at this week’s post-Cabinet briefing, Harmon said that the contract is currently at the Attorney General, Basil William’s, Office. Williams along with Finance Minister Winston Jordan were asked to review the document.

“The contract, I’m told, has now being given to the Attorney General so he will have to review it and in the fullness of time give his determination of what is in it,” Harmon said.

Moreover, Harmon went on to explain that based on the AG’s advice following his review, Cabinet will take appropriate actions.

Nevertheless, even as Government is conducting its review, City Hall has gone ahead with the project. In fact on Wednesday the owner of the company contracted to carry out the project, Kamau Cush, brought a demo parking meter, showing members of the public how to operate the equipment.

On the other hand, there continues to be mounting concerns over the lack of transparency in the deal, which persons say appears to be a shady one aimed at exploiting the local populace.

However, Cush, who owns both National Parking Systems (NPS) and Smart City Solutions (SCS), maintained that the project is a legitimate one. He told reporters on Wednesday that he is not bothered by the review being conducted by Government since it is intended to detect any illegality and assured Guyanese that nothing of the sort will be found: “There is no fleecing going on…we have everything to lose, we will be responsible for all the overhead, for the software, for the hardware—everything. The City of Georgetown and Central Government will have no financial responsibility in the installation or the operation of the project.”

Furthermore, the United States-based Guyanese businessman disclosed that the contract was actually signed between the Town Council and Smart City Solutions, and not NPS as previously stated. He added too that when the joint venture between the two companies was formed, NPS was absorbed into SCS, which is owned by Mexican Company – Operadora de Estacionamientos Bicentenario, S.A. de C.V.

“Smart City Solutions is a subsidiary of Operadora de Estacionamientos Bicentenario, this is the parent company that is headquartered in Mexico City… NPS is no longer an entity that’s operating this parking system. The City of Georgetown signed a contract with Smart City Solutions. NPS is a shareholder in Smart City Solutions; Smart City Solutions is a subsidiary of Operadora de Estacionamientos Bicentenario, which is based in Mexico,” Cush told reporters two days ago.

This information comes in light of mounting concerns over the authenticity of the two initial companies – NPS and SCS. Since the signing of the contract for the Parking Meters Project, several City Councillors have expressed scepticism about the project.

In fact, Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan had stated that he could not find proper information about NPS, which was believed to be the substantive company handling the project. Duncan had stated that the address given by Cush for NPS led to an address in New York City which housed the Atlanta City Bank. However, the director explained on Wednesday that no information could be found about the company in the United States because its operation is based in Mexico City.

In light of the brewing tension within the M&CC, President David Granger on Monday visited City Hall and during his address he reminded the Councillors that they have a duty to represent and serve the people who elected them into Office, noting that if they do not perform satisfactorily they may not get the opportunity to return to the Council.

The Head of State clearly pointed out that he was not there to pass any instructions to City Hall on how they should manage their affairs.

“I ask this council today to consider, please note my language because I don’t want to be misreported, I haven’t come here to give instructions,” he stated.

Moreover, the President told the City Councillors that his Administration will continue to support the Council in their drive to push the urban development agenda, however it will have to be transparent and accountable in its operation.