While the installation of parking meters throughout the capital city recently commenced, with the setting up of the first unit on Regent Street outside City Hall, officials say the machines will take full effect on January 23, 2017.
This is according to Smart City Solutions (SCS) Public Relations Officer (PRO) Kit Nascimento who relayed to Guyana Timesthat the meters would commence operation on January 9, for informational purposes only.
Moshevilli and other City Hall representatives at the launch of the meters
This means that no payments will be taken at the meters until January 23, when regular fees will be collected from those utilising parking spaces in the city. The period from January 9-23 will be used to educate the public on the proper usage of the parking meters.
The Managing Director of SCS, Amir Oren calls this the “introductory period” where the public will be taught how to use the machines.
Currently, the units have been installed mainly on Regent Street, Avenue of the Republic and at a few other locations.
The implementation of these meters is to be divided into two phases. The first phase of the parking meter project will see the delineation of 3237 parking spaces throughout Georgetown, utilising 157 parking meters.
The meters, intended to regulate parking, 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.
A fee of $50 plus Value Added Tax (VAT) will be charged for every 15 minutes of parking along the streets of Georgetown.
This will also be mandatory for public transportation, until preparations are made for alternative parking spaces.
The revenue obtained from the machines, according to Town Clerk Royston King, in a recent meeting with the media, is to be reinvested into the development of the country.
He said: “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.”
The parking meters will be operational from 07:00h to 19:00h Monday to Saturday. Parking is free any time before 07:00h and after 19:00h, on Sundays and holidays.
All seems to be running smoothly even as the Opposition, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and the Private Sector Commission (PSC) strongly objected to the initiative, even calling for it to be recalled.
