But who's behind these new parking meters?
As far as we've gathered, there are two companies involved, the first Betta Park Solutions is owned by, a former independent mayoral candidate for Belmopan, Marlon Skeen and his wife.
Skeen says he's been lobbying to install the machines for years and was overjoyed to finally get the opportunity.
He stopped by our studio this evening with some harsh words for the naysayers telling them that while progress brings problems, "they need fi stop cry.":
Marlon Skeen - Owner
"So with everything I think it was Machiavelli who said those who oppose changing the status co. are those benefiting from it. Certainly no problem but we need to accept change. Where does it say that the city must provide private parking for your private business. In no modern, that is the case. The city looks after its citizens and the public at large and yes many of those citizens are customers of private businesses."
Cherisse Halsall
"But these businesses sir would argue that the city is responsible for prosperity and for their businesses to prosper. Not really private management is the burden of the manager or the owner of that business. If your business, fails due to mismanagement you can't blame the city for that and I think that particular gentleman says he's been there for 20 years plus that means he's had a good run and he's had 20 years of bliss and now that that has changed you don't cry, you get up dust yourself off and you do what you need to do. He has, and I was looking at it just now, he has a large yard, remove the fence and make parking for your customers within your yard, c'mon you need to provide for your customers, not the city."
Marlon Skeen
"Sir these business people will say that it's all well and good for you because you di eat...They were eating long before me and they've been enjoying the sweets, the city's regulation parking, I don't even think that is a question parking has been an issue, especially in Belize City and that has been an issue for years and years."
Cherisse Halsall
"Is it your understanding that the City council consulted with these businesses before installing your machines?"
Marlon Skeen
"Not only an understanding I was present at that and they had multiple, how can these people blame the city or blame anybody for them not paying attention to what is happening within their city and paying attention to things that will affect them come on you can't spoon feed people, but they also need to wake up and keep their eyes and ears open this project has been pending for a long long time. This is years in the making and very very recently there were meetings held and the most recent one was upstairs of city hall and it was well attended by many many business people, these particular business people are asleep so if they are negligent in looking after their business how can they blame the city for that. But we are trying to move into the new era into a modern city."
