When parking meters were introduced to the capital in 2016, they were one of the most controversial topics for many months, sparking a series of protests, litigation, and eventual government intervention that led to the initiative being shut down.
However, the issue of parking in the city still remains unaddressed.
When questioned recently about whether the council is looking to reintroduce a metering system, Mayor of Georgetown Ubraj Narine said while he sees it as “necessary" there should be a wide level of consultation on the matter.
“Parking meter is necessary, I’m not saying no but I believe a parking meter should be done with some kind of conjunction with the private sector body and other stakeholders in the city because you just can’t just bring parking meter and wake up to it next morning. I believe a proper study, engage the citizens, the private sector, and civil society body and have something comprehensive,” he said while responding to questions from MTV News Update at a press conference held at City Hall.
With the massive development ongoing within the City, the Mayor believes that parking lots will be more effective when it comes to managing traffic within the city.
“The city with this kind of development, you need parking lots. If you bring parking meter in the city, you can’t take off all the traffic that you have right now in the city. When you have parking lots some people can choose to park the vehicle in the parking lot.”
He however did not give any proposed areas for the construction of these parking lots.
When the idea of the parking meters was introduced, scores of citizens took to the street and protested over the proposed hourly cost for parking. It was reported that the proposed cost would have been $500 per hour but this was later changed.
The revenue garnered from this project would have been used to offset other projects within the city.
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