Smart City boots vehicles

Smart City Solutions (SCS) has begun booting vehicles which did not pay to park within central Georgetown. On Thursday several vehicles on Water Street were booted after failing to use the company’s prepaid parking meter system.

SCS Spokesperson, Kit Nascimento told News Room that the company is enforcing its rules and it should not be mistaken as an exercise. As such, vehicles that utilised the parking spaces marked by the company were clamped due to not using the parking meters.

However, vehicle users are not required to pay the fine as the company is being lenient until full implementation. This form of enforcement will continue on Friday and over the weekend on defaulting users.

Nascimento noted that persons will be required to pay the necessary fees from Monday, January 30, 2017, as the prepaid cards are already being sold at various locations.

Following the implementation of the parking meter system this week after a slight delay, only empty spaces were visible around the city.

Vendors along Water Street, also complained that the fees can only be seen as an additional burden.

The price for parking is 50 dollars plus VAT for every 15 minutes of parking with a maximum time purchase of up to six hours per day according to Smart City Solutions.

The controversial solar-powered parking meter project was to be rolled out September last year. This never happened because of concerns regarding the contract signed by the Georgetown Mayor and City Council with Smart City Solutions.

After being reviewed by Attorney General Chambers and Ministry of Finance, amendments to the contract and updating of the city bylaws all seems to be in place for the meters to fully function.