Parking meters deal reeks of disdain for citizens, dearth of democratic principles – TIGI

The handling of the parking meters contract exhibits a dearth of democratic principles and a disdain for citizens that would lead to a feeling of exclusion and alienation from the decision-making process, Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc (TIGI) has stated.

According to a press release issued by the organisation yesterday, there is a lack of transparency and accountability in the 49-year agreement, which was signed between the Mayor and City Council and National Parking Systems and Smart City Solutions ((NPS/SCS).

TIGI noted that there was no open tendering for the project and that it was subsequent to the contract being signed that a ‘handpicked’ group from City Hall travelled to Mexico to conduct due diligence. “This was perhaps necessary as it was a fool’s errand from the onset against the backdrop of an already signed contract, which positioned it in the interest of the mayor to find the firm suitable or even exceeding the requirements,” the statement further noted.

Mayor Patricia Chase-Green, Town Clerk Royston King and APNU councillors Oscar Clarke and Junior Garrett, who were all on the previous council, had visited Mexico and Panama in June this year. It was the previous council that entered into an agreement with (NPS/SCS), in November 2015, prior to local government elections, which were held on March 18, this year.

TIGI noted that the “alignment of interest inevitably set the Mayor in defence mode; defending, the decision, defending the contractor, defending the idea of the project, instead of listening to the people and addressing their concerns.” In addition, it stated, there is the “bewildering secrecy surrounding the contract” when the contract itself should be with the people of Georgetown.

The contract has to date not been placed in the public domain, although it has been perused by central government at the level of the Ministry of Finance and the Attorney General’s Chambers and found to be lacking. A series of recommendations for its review has since been made.

This manner of conducting business is entirely inappropriate as the decisions made will affect the lives of many Guyanese and will affect future generations, TIGI said in its statement. “There must be transparency and accountability in the operations of local government and the views of the people must be respected. That this project is allowed to continue in its current configuration in spite of a legal basis for enacting a new and transparent process, is a telling blow to transparency, accountability and good governance,” the statement said.

The people of Georgetown, their children, grandchildren and perhaps great-great-grandchildren have been bullied into a deal, the details of which are yet unknown and which from all accounts, has not benefited from an assessment of feasibility or their input. It is the people that bear the burden of poor governance and it is up to them people to be vigilant and to use the democratic provisions to have their voices heard, TIGI said.

It noted that local government should empower citizens to determine their own path, but this necessitates a decision-making process that is characterised by transparency, full disclosure of relevant information, and responsiveness to the concerns of those whose lives and livelihoods would be affected.

TIGI is of the view that the failures of the Georgetown Municipality in its execution of the parking meters deal, serve as strong contradictions to the purpose of local government.