City By-laws clears way for parking meters to be installed this month

The clock is ticking as the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) and Smart City Solutions (SCS) are one step closer to fully rolling out their parking meter project. The project is expected to be rolled out this month.

On Tuesday, the Georgetown Council at a statutory meeting passed the parking meter by-laws which would clear the way for Smart City Solutions to move ahead with installing their meter around the City.

Majority of the votes were from Councillors belonging to the APNU and AFC parties while Councillors from the PPP/C voted against the by-laws.

Abstaining from the process were Councillors Malcolm Ferreira and Akeem Peters since Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan was not in the chambers at the time of the vote.

Last week Wednesday the first presentation of the proposed bylaws was previewed to the Council during a special statutory meeting which excluded the media and public.

With the much controversy surrounding the parking meter project the parliamentary Opposition even has a pending motion seeking to examine the contractual arrangement with the City Hall and Smart City Solutions.

However, the Speaker of the National Assembly said he was advised that the matter is considered to be sub judice which simply means that a case is being considered by a judge and therefore is prohibited from public discussion.

The contract of Smart City Solutions has since been reviewed and amended by the Council following public objection about the royalties to be gain by the company from the project.

In the coming months, 157 meters are expected to be installed most of which is expected to be erected and operational before the end of this month.