Officials of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council are scheduled to make a presentation to Cabinet at its next meeting on the amended parking meter by-laws even as Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan has already registered his support for the return of paid parking in the city.
Bulkan told reporters on Wednesday that following the presentation by the Georgetown Municipality, Central Government will make a decision and a determination on the way forward.
Yesterday, Town Clerk Royston King appeared confident that the Cabinet will support the Amended by-laws and offer the green light for the return of paid parking in the City.
The original contract was suspended by the Government following concerns and almost daily protests. City Hall was tasked with reviewing the contract.
Bulkan reminded on Wednesday that he has always been on record as supporting the initiative which is intended to help to restore order to parking in the city.
“At the end of the day however, the contract that is engaged in, has to be one that is not burdensome to the population, the benefits have to be equitably shared between the concessionaire and the council,” he said.
Bulkan observed that alot of those features were not present in the initial contract, precisely why the by-laws had to be rescinded.
“It is our hope that the amended contract satisfies the concerns that were expressed by the Ministry of Finance and by the Attorney General Chambers… this review and assessment will be done by Cabinet at its next meeting following a presentation by the Georgetown Municipality,’ he added.
The Council at an April 4th meeting approved the amended parking meter by-laws by majority vote.
Only two councilors opposed the by-laws at the time. Khame Prakash Sharma and Bishram Kuppen argued that the by-laws were in support of a contract that still remains unfair to citizens.
The amendments will now see persons paying $150 per hour and $800 for eight hours of parking in the City.
Meanwhile, residents of the city would be issued with a restricted residential pass for free parking from 17:00-19:00hrs Monday to Friday, while parking will be free on Saturdays.
The Parking Meter contract remains suspended until Cabinet approval is given for the amended bylaws.
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