Dear Editor,
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) should urgently re-examine its approach to the clamping of vehicle tyres. After reviewing the relevant traffic laws, I have found no provision that explicitly authorises this practice. If I have overlooked any applicable statute or regulation, I would welcome clarification, along with reference to the relevant legal provision.
In the absence of such a law, the Guyana Police Force has also failed to undertake a nationwide public awareness campaign on parking regulations and the legality of vehicle clamping. Without a transparent, informed approach, Guyanese citizens will continue to suffer unnecessary inconvenience; particularly if the Force persists with an unclear or ad hoc strategy. Let me be clear; I do not condone illegal parking, which is indeed a violation of traffic laws.
However, as a regular road user, I can attest that traffic congestion in and around Georgetown has worsened significantly, and parking has become an ever-growing challenge. It is my view that the relevant authorities have done little—if anything—to meaningfully address this longstanding issue.
Years ago, the Georgetown Municipality proposed several parking initiatives that could have generated revenue and improved traffic flow. Unfortunately, those proposals were rejected by Central Government, and in some cases taken as theirs.
To illustrate the problem, one needs only observe the situation on Regent Street, one of Georgetown’s main commercial corridors. While there are designated bus parks and spaces for hire cars around Bourda Market, other areas are marked as “No Parking” zones.
Yet some businesses have taken it upon themselves to use collapsible barriers and improvised materials to reserve public spaces for private use, an unfair and unlawful practice. It is worth questioning whether these businesses have obtained official permission from the City Council and are paying the requisite fees. It seems evident that many are not prioritizing customer accessibility or complying with municipal regulations. To its credit, Bounty Supermarket is among the few businesses along Regent Street that provide structured parking for its patrons.
As someone who grew up in the close-knit Bourda community, I fondly remember playing with my siblings along Merriman’s Mall. Today, the stretch between Light and Albert Streets has effectively been converted into a private parking area serving a large commercial entity on Church Street. This transformation is emblematic of a broader trend in Georgetown, where former residential zones are being overtaken by commercial and industrial development, often in violation of zoning laws and without adequate urban planning.
Large commercial structures are rising across the city with little regard for the negative impact on surrounding residential neighborhoods. Residents are left to contend with worsening congestion, increased noise levels, and blocked driveways, while the authorities appear indifferent. I encourage your media team to conduct site visits to Duncan Street, First and Fifth Streets in Alberttown, and sections of Robb and Albert Streets, the issues are glaringly obvious.
Development is necessary and welcome, but it must not come at the expense of the poor and vulnerable. Many of these newly established businesses lack proper parking facilities, and their operations often restrict access to residents’ homes. This is not sustainable.
There is an urgent need for a comprehensive analysis of the parking crisis in Georgetown, followed by collaborative, long-term solutions.
Some underutilised public spaces, such as areas of Independence Park, Durban Park, and sections adjacent to major drains, could be transformed into structured parking zones using collapsible covers and organized systems. These could serve as pilot projects. Any such initiative should include adequate security, numbering, and accountability mechanisms to ensure transparency. I recall that under former Mayor Hamilton Green, a parking initiative was introduced on East Street between Middle and New Market Streets. Though it faced initial resistance, it was a step in the right direction.
Before I conclude, I must also raise an issue that has become increasingly prevalent over the past five years; the use of unregistered vehicles. Many such vehicles operate late into the night using unauthorized or missing trade plates, posing a serious danger to other road users. Alarmingly, police officers often stand by without taking appropriate action. Just a few days ago on Durban Street, I witnessed police stopping a vehicle that was both unregistered and without a trade plate. After a phone call was made and handed to the officer, the vehicle was allowed to go on its way. When will this culture of impunity end?
In conclusion, I submit that our national approach to governance, especially in urban planning and enforcement, must change if we are to truly position Guyana as a developed and model nation in the Caribbean. Many smaller nations have implemented effective systems that their citizens follow. Why can’t we? Especially now that we are an oil-producing country, the time for meaningful reform is now.
I sincerely hope the relevant authorities take these concerns seriously and begin to address the bigger picture, rather than relying on fragmented and reactive policies. We can and must do better!
God bless our dear land of Guyana.
Yours truly,
Annette Ferguson, MP
