Dear Editor,

Last week, my husband and I had to conduct business at the Inland Revenue Department in downtown, Kingston. To our consternation, we had to pay $200 for each two-hour period of parking (or part thereof) at a neighbouring car park.

Interestingly, although the park is operated by the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), its condition is quite sub-par.

Except for the entrance and exit gates, the parking lot has neither surrounding wall nor fencing for security. Furthermore, the road surface, despite having no visible or gaping pothole, is quite bumpy.

Certainly, given these conditions and the exorbitant charge to use the facility, the parking lot ought to boast far better conditions and security. In fact, some places that are very well-appointed charge only $100 per hour for parking.

Our greater concern, nonetheless, was with the fact that so many businesses, including this government-run department, do not provide any secured parking for customers. We have to pay! Bear with me. If one has to do business regularly in this area and spend hours – which is usually the case, considering the long queues, delays and potentially unsuccessful transactions with which one is bound to contend – one will most likely pay a hefty fee for parking.

Why can’t these businesses, in light of their inadequate, and oftentimes, zero parking provisions, provide verification of your transactions with them? Such verification could then be presented to the operators of the parking lots, and, therefore, be used to authorise a fee waiver.

Often we hear of Municipal police officers repeatedly ticketing motorists for parking illegally in busy commercial hubs. Understandably, the officers must take action against such offenders in order to discourage the prohibited act and ward off traffic congestion. However, ticketing cannot be the sole solution to this recurring problem. We have to make some reasonable, sustainable and affordable adjustments.

We could do one of a number of things: reduce parking fees or eliminate such fees; allow people at least an hour or two of free parking (as is the case in the very few areas of the USA that charge for parking); or better yet, provide free parking for customers and provide a stamped document to verify their transactions with your company.

We are experiencing a very austere financial climate. Do not feign ignorance. In fact, this very climate can make the repeated spending of $200 (and less) for mere parking a cumulative cause of “bruk-pocketness.”

Imagine after me done pay toll, me have to then pay almost half the toll fee fi park somewhere as me do me likkle business.

Have some mercy on the motorists who are already drowning in motor-related and other expenses. Beg yuh likkle parking – free parking, at best.

Shawna Kay Williams-Pinnock