Dear Editor,
We, the residents and occupants of East Street are appealing to President David Granger to discontinue the implementation of a paid parking area along East Street, North Cummingsburg, Georgetown, and for the removal of the steel barricades which have been erected there.
The Government of Guyana in collaboration with the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown and the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation had asphalted over the lawns and pedestrian footpath between the eastern and western half of northern East Street with the intention of providing improved parking facilities for doctors, nurses, students, employees of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and visitors to the institution and neighbouring establishments.
Moreover, the paved area serves as an aid for residents who live in back houses without a driveway along East Street, so they can park their motor vehicles off the street. Today, in our society, motor vehicles are not a luxury but a necessity for single parent families and extended families, as they strive to fulfil rental obligations, and pay mortgages, utility bills and motor vehicle hire-purchase instalments.
The additional tax of ‘pay for parking’ in Guyana is overwhelming, as we continue to work tirelessly for the development of Guyana by paying property rates and taxes and Value Added Tax, as well as make payments to the National Insurance Scheme and Pay As You Earn tax scheme.
Further, the barricaded area encroaches on the shoulders of the road, is poorly designed for easy ingress and egress, grossly inadequate for easy navigation and represents another avenue for financial corruption among officials of the Mayor and Councillors and the city constabulary.
We, the undersigned, loyal supporters of the Government of Guyana, echo our call to the President for his compassion and righteous judgment in issuing a command to disassemble the East Street paid parking area.
We appeal for his attention forthwith, since this structure is an additional hardship and a gigantic burden in numerous ways for our citizenry, commuters and individuals seeking their economic livelihood, medical and social care and assistance.
By disassembling the East Street paid parking area, thousands of Guyanese will be once again be benefiting from the generosity of the Government of Guyana, as we live in an environment of peace and justice with adequate security and freedom while we seek free medical care from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and the opportunity to enjoy a better life for all Guyanese.
Yours faithfully,
Dr Gisel Del Toro
Fareeda Edwards
A Chung
R Campbell
N Persaud
Surya D Sugrim
Hamida Amin and 93 others
