Paid parking - it's an offence to no one but what's causing a little stir is how it's being done at the international airport. The airport management says a new system is part of all around improvements at the airport, but today we found out that the old rule proves truer than ever, progress does bring problems.
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
Do you carry three dollars and fifty cents in coins on you? Well if you don't you're going to have problems parking at the Phillip Goldson Airport. That's because the private Airport Concession Company has put up this machine to collect three dollars and fifty cents in coins for everyone who parks there. Pay the money and the barrier lifts. It is a simple system, but there's little room for error - because if you don't have change the machine won't make it for you, and this window where once served a human face is now shuttered and plastered with a sign referring you right back to the machine. That's caused some distress, but airport duty manager Emile Evans says the system works fine, it's the people who are resistant to change.
Emile Evans, Duty Manager - PGIA
"People in general in Belize don't like change. They are comfortable within their little zones and the walls that they put up but we have to move forward."
But some says it's been one step forward and two steps back. In just a brief time there we encountered a number of parking lot patrons who didn't know and didn't have change. Evans says the airport authority did its part: it spent 6 weeks doing awareness campaigns.
Emile Evans,
"We've had a campaign a month before we left the machine to work by itself."
Jules Vasquez,
Is this fair to do it without a change machine because I don't usually walk around with $3.50 in change. Is there something, should I plan from home if I am coming to the airport and try and get change? What should I do?
Emile Evans,
"Well I would imagine that the first time you come up you might encounter some problem but we have put a sign at the entrance of the car park. We have signs there."
But those signs don't make change and were of no help to me already parked, only to find that I only had hard bills.
Jules Vasquez,
I don't have $3.50 in change right now. Is something that I can do here at the airport?
Emile Evans,
"If you don't have your change, I'll suggest that you work with the bank and get the change from the bank because you need the $3.50 to come out of the car park."
So I had to go inside to the Belize Bank where they changed my money without any problem. I found out before I queued up in the parking lot but the driver of this Toyota Hilux found out on the site, and he got out of his vehicle not sure what to do with his $5 bill. Eventually, he had to ask those behind to reverse, as he reversed to go inside and find some change.
Driver #1,
"I wasn't totally aware of the need to have quarters or fifty cents. I am just going to go and get it now."
Jules Vasquez,
Is this an inconvenience for you?
Driver #1,
"I guess for today. Next time I come it won't be but the public could maybe be more informed."
And while he made change for him and his friend in rotary, there wasn't quite enough and he ended up getting change from Duty Manager Evans himself. But Evans won't be there everyday and the new money machine didn't earn rave reviews from those we spoke to.
Roy Neal, Driver
"I just came in from Los Angeles but we usually come here and pay the young lady at the booth so we were prepared to do that but so if that guy didn't come up and try to help us, we would have had to stay here for the night."
Jules Vasquez,
But every time you are traveling from abroad you don't usually have $3.50 in change.
Roy Neal,
"Yeah."
Jules Vasquez,
So it is a bit inconvenient for you?
Roy Neal,
"It is a lot of inconvenience, very inconvenient."
Jules Vasquez,
Do you have change? So you were expecting it? So it is not an inconvenience for you?
Driver #2,
"Everybody just got to get used to it."
Driver #3,
"I don't have the $3.50 on me and I think that that is creating a problem because now that you are not aware that you have to pay $3.50 you have to get back out of your vehicle, and then walk back into the bank and then try to get change to do that transaction and walk back again. Fortunately the rain has finished but if it was raining it would have really been an inconvenience and I don't see this as a positive step. I am not in agreement with it at all because you are not aware of what you are going to pay until you get here and how you pay that, that is not a positive move - that's a negative move."
Driver #4,
"This will back fire, it has to back fire."
Driver #3,
"If I would have to vote for this, I will vote this out immediately."
Emile Evans,
"It's a big change for people. They are used to dealing with a person and now they deal with a machine and I think eventually they will get over it and move forward."
And for those resistant to change who may try and somehow cheat the system, the airport management has installed this, a security camera, which is watching, while you are not. So, best advice is lean out of your window, flip the door open, or send someone outside, but just make sure - as I did - that you've got enough change to deal with this change.
Evans says that staff was re-assigned and not terminated to make way for the coin machine.
