Guyana Faces US$100M Legal Battle Over Abandoned Parking Meter Deal as Int’l Hearings Begin

On Monday September 29, 2025, the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) in Paris will open hearings in the high-stakes case of Smart City Solutions Holdings Inc. v Co-operative Republic of Guyana. At the center of the dispute is a US$100 million claim brought by Smart City Solutions (SCS) over the controversial and now-abandoned parking meter contract signed during the former A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition administration.

The Georgetown parking meter project, introduced in 2016-2017, drew intense national outcry, sparking sustained protests and public condemnation. Critics—including then Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan—blasted the project for its lack of transparency, absence of a feasibility study, and the disproportionate burden it placed on residents. Duncan led a one-man protest in front of Bishop’s High School, questioning the legality and fairness of the contract, especially its impact on the poor and persons with disabilities. Calls to scrap the contract entirely intensified, despite attempts to amend the agreement, including a 50% rate reduction.

Backlash wasn’t limited to City Hall. Civil society groups, legal professionals, and the then opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) joined the movement, condemning the deal as emblematic of poor governance and non-inclusive urban planning. Demonstrators flooded City Hall with placards, demanding not just revisions, but full revocation of the agreement. Eventually, the contract was suspended and fell apart under mounting pressure.

Despite the collapse of the project, the legal fallout persisted. Today, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, is leading Guyana’s legal defense, backed by the prominent Washington-based law firm Foley Hoag. Guyana’s legal team will present a strong lineup of witnesses, including former Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan, ex-City Councillors Malcolm Ferreira and Bishram Kuppen, and a former Chancellor of the Judiciary who will testify as an expert witness.

The arbitration tribunal is chaired by Dr. Campbell Alan McLachlan KC of New Zealand, with co-arbitrators from Germany and Argentina. Their ruling will determine whether Guyana must compensate Smart City Solutions or whether the company’s multimillion-dollar parking meter venture ends in defeat. With taxpayer funds potentially at stake, the outcome could have far-reaching implications for public accountability, investment governance, and urban planning in Guyana.