We are now coming up on two years since the Belize City council first introduced its parking meter project. And after a few complaints and hiccups regarding the meters out at Digi park, not much has been said regarding the ones on Albert street. Today the mayor spoke with us about the feedback he's gotten on the meters in downtown Belize City, which he says have been doing exactly what they were meant to do.
Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City
"I beg to differ with you on that matter parking meters are here to stay. It's a part of the ecosystem of a smart city. You travel anywhere in the world municipalities control on street parking. We can't control off street parking, but the city has a responsibility to ensure that the spaces that is on street regulated and that me and you and my brother here have equal opportunities to use that space. The people who are parking there were not going into those stores to shop there are people who are working in the downtown area and park there all day. so I don't have parking meters will still not be able to access based on your what you are implying. Parking was placed they are not any substantive funds or anything. It was there to regulate the space and that is working. If you go to Brodies or I challenge you to go to one of those areas or any of those businesses in that area they will say that people drive right up. I met a lady during Christmas who said that she has never been in the downtown area but now she's able to go there and drive right up pay her dollar go to shop and come out. This is the type of leadership you want in a city that says every space in this area here is accessible by all the residents. so let me tell you something we have 735 streets in the city. Only Albert Street and the Marine parade have parking meters. So I don't see how you would say that. Parking should be free. It is free all across the city free."
