Dear Editor,
There is a feeling among people not living, working or visiting Georgetown that the high costs associated with the parking meters will not affect them. They are absolutely wrong. The parking meters in Georgetown affect the cost of living of the entire country. When the Georgetown business community has to pay for parking in the city, they will pass on the costs in the prices in goods and services. Thus, all consumers (more so those not in the city) are picking up the parking costs. Unfortunately, the workers in the city cannot pass on the costs and their pay remains the same. They, like the rest of the consumers, around the country are hurt financially.
Similarly, as happened with the Value Added Tax (VAT) on electricity rates (beyond the minimum announced by the Government), also affect the entire nation. The Government claims that only 20 per cent of the nation would be affected by the electricity VAT and they say it is primarily the business community. The Government is wrong. As happens with the parking meter charges, the business community passes on the VAT on electricity usage on the consumers. The business community never carries the burden associated with conducting business. They always pass it on to consumers and even make a profit from it by adding a few percentages. Businesses always seek to make a profit on any act of the Government. The same is true with the VAT on water, health costs and private education – all are passed on to the consumers.
So people outside of Georgetown, don’t think the parking meter is not your corner. You are paying for it without even knowing so. And it is just a matter of time before parking meters are introduced all over Georgetown, not just the red zone. And the parking meter company has the permit to expand to other parts of the country. So Linden, Rose Hall, New Amsterdam, Anna Regina, Charity, and other busy shopping areas, look out for parking meters in due course. And people nationwide, higher costs for basic goods coming.
Yours truly,
Vishnu Bandhu
