Parking meters to become active in January

… as installation commences

BY RAMONA LUTHI

Despite obvious protests against the implementation of parking meters throughout the streets of Georgetown, the City’s Town Clerk, Royston King, has announced that by January 9, 2017, all parking meters will be fully installed and working.
This was disclosed on Wednesday during the parking meter launch, when the Managing Director of Smart City Solutions, Amir Oren and his Public Relations Officer (PRO) Kit Nascimento, in the company of King and other City Hall representatives met with members of the public and the media.
Prior to this, it was disclosed that the parking meters will be completely installed around the city by the end of December; as such, the controversial meters are now installed on a few streets in Georgetown, namely Avenue of the Republic and Regent Street, among others.
King expressed happiness towards the implementation of the parking meters, which he described as a “bold initiative.”
“This project has utility in three areas. First of all, the environment and sustainability, the other area is infrastructural development, and the third area is city economics,” he said.
The Town Clerk went on to announce that the funds garnered from the initiative will be re-invested to upgrade roads and similar facilities, including the development of cycling lanes and also to introduce, install and operate the “City transit system, particularly for senior citizens and children.”
King stated that for now, though, some parking meters are installed, and no one will pay for parking until next year, adding that he hoped persons will become acquainted with the electronic device.
Managing Director of Smart City Solutions, Amir Oren asserted that the introductory period for the parking meters will be launched as of January 9, 2017, and members of the public will be taught how to use the machines.
“The system is very easy to use. As I’ve said many times before, Georgetown is not the first, nor the last to introduce a system like this which is very important, not only to parking but mobility,” he posited.

He expressed confidence that those who are against the parking meters presently will be much more receptive of it once they become acquainted.
The parking meters will be charging a fee of $50 plus Value Added Tax (VAT) every 15 minutes of parking along the streets of Georgetown. This will also be mandatory to public transportation, until preparations are made for alternative parking spaces.
Recently, Oren had said that the implementation would be divided into two phases, adding that the first phase of the parking meter project will occupy 3237 parking spaces in Georgetown, utilising 157 parking meters.
The machines will be stationed close to all the commercial hubs in Georgetown. The meters, intended to regulate traffic, will be situated along Quamina Street, Water Street, Hadfield Street, Camp Street, Church Street, North Road, Robb Street, Regent Street, Charlotte Street, South Road, Croal Street, Brickdam, Avenue of the Republic, Wellington Street and King Street.
From its genesis, the parking meter project was rejected by citizens and the Private Sector. However, the “shady” contract was endorsed by the Government, which after scrutinising of the contract, stated that no illegalities were found, and so the project was given the “go ahead”.
At that time, the project was being spearheaded by Kamau Cush, who was named the Director of Smart City Solutions. However, just a few weeks ago, the company’s PRO stated that Cush was only a shareholder of the company and was no longer operational.
The company’s PRO also stated that the parking meters would be operational from 07:00h to 19:00h Mondays to Saturdays. However, parking is free any time before 07:00h and after19:00h, on Sundays and holidays.