AG’s chamber still to conclude examination of parking meter contract

Georgetown, GINA, July 14, 2016

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon today, stated that the Attorney General’s Chambers and Ministry of Legal Affairs is yet to complete the examination of City Hall’s parking meter contract.

The Minister was at the time responding to questions from media operatives on the status of the review by Government. “The Ministry of Finance, they have completed their part of it and so we have to wait now on the Attorney General’s intervention to determine the way forward.”

Cabinet had asked that the Ministries of Finance and Legal Affairs examine the contract after reports surfaced in the media about corruption in the parking meter contract.

“I indicated here that the councils were independent bodies and government was not prepared to interfere into its works but, because of the specific nature of Georgetown as the capital city of Guyana, Government had an interest in ensuring that there is clear transparency in all of the operations of the council.”

The parking meter contract was sent to the Ministries of Finance and Legal Affairs for review amid growing questions in the media about the selection of National Parking Systems (NPS)/Smart City Solutions for a city parking meters project. Additionally Deputy Mayor of Georgetown, Sherod Duncan said he will not support  the deal, citing, among other things, doubts about the background and capacity of the firms to undertake the venture, and lack of transparency.