| On a day traditionally set aside for resting and attending religious and other functions, minibus operators and owners came out in their numbers to meet with officials of the Mayor and City Council,China Jerseys Cheap, (M&CC) to iron out issues related to the introduction of a new toll system to govern the parking arrangements around the city.The new toll of $200 per day is set to be implemented from today. The toll set by the M&CC will affect all public transport providers in Georgetown and scores swarmed the chambers of City Hall yesterday to hold discussions with Town Clerk, Royston King.Although the minibus operators shared different views, King asserted that the move is part of the Council’s vision to transform sections of Georgetown into a city more on par with those of the developed world.He said that the move is also part of a wider plan to enforce order and encourage minibus operators to adapt modern and acceptable parking practices.The Town Clerk told the gathering that initially the Council had suggested that the minibus operators pay the City $200 per day to park at the facilities while some operators had suggested 100 per trip.However, the crowd erupted with many murmuring disagreement with the latter suggestion. A large section of the gathering voted in favour of the $200 per day suggestion.Town Clerk Royston King (centre ) meets with a group of minibus operators following consultations yesterday.However, minibus owners like Nial Cyrus were very vocal in their objection to the toll.“Not one cent! I already pay GRA revenue for Road Service fee of $12,500 a year,” Cyrus said, noting that the new toll by City Hall will see operators expending another $60,000 or $70,000 from their budget annually.King then explained that the coming days will be a pilot for the new toll system, which will be reviewed at the end of the week.“This meeting is not a confrontation. It is an attempt to build a strong partnership with the Municipality and critical stakeholders,” King stated.The Town Clerk disclosed that in another few weeks, the Municipality will seek to clear the entire Stabroek Market area of the vehicular congestion.Thus, the new toll system is only a temporary one, specifically for those in the Stabroek Market area, King said, while revealing plans to relocate operators in this section of the city.“In other words, you will not be allowed to continue operating in the Stabroek area within another month or two. What we are hoping to do is to ensure that that particular area is cleared of everything. All we want is a nice open space where we can have other social and allied activities,” King told the bus operators.He said too that the Council is in the process of identifying other areas to provide suitable parking facilities for the operators. According to the Town Clerk, the toll system has been in the pipeline for some time.“We are not trying to hinder the services you are providing but rather to organize it in a manner that will help you to make more money, have safer roads and provide better service for citizens,” the Town Clerk said.He noted that separate discussions were held with taxi owners and operators.According to King, the Municipality will seek to add a number of other features to enhance the new parking facilities.These include bus sheds, garbage receptacles, security and the elimination of the trend of “hotplates” and “touting” at the bus parks.The Town Clerk noted that efforts to restore Georgetown, making it comparable with any other cities in the modern world are quite costly.“Most of the monies are coming from the rates paid by property owners, government subventions and fees for processing of plans….We have a number of other things to do so what you are seeing now is the minimal so we all could be proud of our city,” he stated. |
