Lee Sing: $5,000 fine for illegal parking coming

Port-of-Spain mayor Louis Lee Sing says drivers in violation of parking restrictions in the city will not only have their vehicles impounded but can pay a hefty fine of $5,000. The disclosure (which is to be published, via public notices this week) was made yesterday at the monthly statutory meeting of the Port-of-Spain Corporation in the council chamber, City Hall, Knox Street. “Carnival or no Carnival, we will be wrecking their (drivers) vehicles and hauling them away to a secret place and they will have to pay an administrative fee of $5,000 to receive their vehicles.

“Let the message go out and let it be known throughout the city,” he added. When questioned as to where this “secret place” was, deputy mayor Keron Valentine reiterated Lee Sing’s comments and added that persons would be advised of such “place” accordingly. Lee Sing, in giving this mandate to all drivers within the city, made specific mention of vehicles illegally parked and creating a nuisance within the precincts of Woodbrook and King George V Park, the latter of which he cited as being in dire need of restoration.

He added: “Additionally, if you park in front the gate of any burgess in Port-of-Spain you also will have to pay $5,000.”  Up to late yesterday, it was unclear whether an increase in the fine for a parking violation (which is currently $1,000) fell under the legal ambit of the mayor. Meanwhile, councillor for St James West Robin Bynoe alluded to the “extra” $1,000 given to members of the T&T Police Service and suggested a similar payment be made to city police officers, who worked just as hard for meagre salaries.

“They (city police) put their lives on the line and start off with a salary of $4,000 and we think it is only right they get the same allocation,” he said.  Lee Sing, in echoing the Bynoe’s sentiments, revealed his concerns over the rising crime in the city which he attributed to the recent withdrawal of police posts in the East Dry River area. He added: “The police have withdrawn all police posts in the East Dry River area. “Since that has been done earlier this week, the level of shooting, the level of banditry and the level of violence in East Dry River have risen.” Lee Sing lamented on his frustration with dealing with the delays of the Central Government and said the decentralisation of local government would empower them financially to manage their corporations with greater ease.