It was not just Duncan who spoke out on parking meters in council
Dear Editor,
I refer to two letters pertaining to the parking meter issue; one by Raquel Thomas-Caesar (‘The parking meter project was foisted on the citizenry’ SN, January 24) and the response by Mark Benschop (Team Benschop) (‘Other councillors apart from Duncan spoke out on parking meter contract’ SN, January 26).
In particular, I wish to focus on Thomas-Caesar’s statements that only Councillor Sherod Duncan voiced his objections to the parking meter project in contrast to the passive acceptance by the other councillors.
Editor, a cursory perusal of the city council meetings and minutes of both August 31, 2016 and September 13, 2016 will capture the pro-active participation and myriad interventions of Councillor Alfred Mentore. (The minutes of these meetings are available to the public and furthermore, these discussions were not held in camera). Therefore to contend that all councillors allowed the project to proceed unchallenged is far from the facts.
Ms Thomas-Caesar further questioned councillors’ commitment, loyalty and duty of care to their respective constituents. Suffice it to say, this is not the case.
For my part, Editor, permit me to chronicle some of the interactions of Councillor Mentore with reference to his pivotal involvement and responsibility for intervening as a councillor in the Container Fee issue between Crown Mining and the city administration of council. This intervention role by me, caused a lot of friction at the time but benefited the council thereafter with us moving from a collection rate of $500,000.00/ monthly to a quantum increase of $12,000,000.00-$15,000,000.00/monthly.
Coupled with this singular turn of events, Councillor Mentore also spoke extensively and provided inputs on the following matters, inter alia:• booting fee, storage fee, towing fees, parking fees/tariff ‒ Councillor Mentore advocated the reduction of these fees and the need for legislation and the necessary bylaws governing their introduction and implementation;
• the duration of Smart City Solutions’ contract with a view to the Mayor & City Council ‘owning’ the venture on the expiration of the agreed contract term of 20 years;
• the removal of any exclusivity granted to Smart City Solutions vis-à-vis garage parking spaces since the Mayor & City Council (M&CC) should be the only authority approving such garage parking with no consent needed from Smart City Solutions;
• and many other conditionalities and ramifications of breach of contract.
Editor, having regard to the foregoing, it is rather unfortunate that Ms ThomasCaesar did not endeavour to seek the facts, but rather painted the entire council membership with a broad brush, and did not recognize or acknowledge the sterling contributions of Councillors Alfred Mentore, Ron Persaud, Noelle ChowChee and others. Yours faithfully, Alfred Mentore Councillor Constituency 4 City of Georgetown