Parking Meters Take Effect on April 4th

The plan for parking meters in Belize City by Mayor Bernard Wagner has been met with some resistance since the concept was first introduced earlier this year. But as it appears, the city council is going full steam ahead with its plan to install parking meters. It provides parking in key areas in the B.T.L. Park area and on Albert Street for those who can afford it and serves as a revenue generator for the council. Today, Mayor Wagner was asked about the project which, according to a newspaper publication, is set to begin on Monday, April fourth.

Bernard Wagner

Bernard Wagner, Belize City Mayor

“We’ve had a brief hiccup in terms of getting the required approval. Given that it’s a pilot project, we had to receive some measure of approval from cabinet. We’ve received that letter; those notices have been gazette, ‘cause we had to gazette it as well. Our two vendors are currently doing the laying out of their module and their platforms and so we expect this to be launched by fourth of April.”

Reporter

“Where will these meters be focused first, specifically?”

Bernard Wagner

“It’s in two areas. One area is in the B.T.L. park area and the other on Albert Street. The reason why we choose the B.T.L. park area is because we have many small vendors in that area who do day-to-day business out there. And what has been happening, due to the business activity in that area, many of the call centers and the people parking in front of the park the entire day, does not give the vendors the opportunity to really drive their little economy there. So, we wanted to share the space. It’s a public space. It’s an on-street parking and we to regulate on-street parking around the entire city.”