A state-of-the-art parking system using laser guns is being planned for the streets of the capital city. Mayor of Port-of-Spain Alderman Raymond Tim Kee said he cannot wait for the introduction of the system which, it is hoped, would be introduced to all the corporations in the country. Tim Kee, one of the county’s top insurance executives, views Trinidad as an almost lawless society. He also emphasised that if being a politician means you can deliberately make false promises, then he prefers not to be one.
Q: Mr Mayor, you have been in office for a year and some months. What has been your most notable achievement so far, and are you being stymied in achieving your goals so far?
A: (In the Mayor’s parlor at City Hall, Port-of-Spain, Wednesday morning) No. And by nature, I am a people person, so my most notable achievement is, as I see it, bringing according to the people on the street, some calm and humanness, to use their term.
These include all segments of the city’s burgesses and those who come into the capital on a daily basis whether for work or play and, while I do not support some of the things venders do, I always approach their problems in a very humanistic way. I do believe that when you are dealing with people you have to recognise that you cannot always go by the letter of the law.
Are your suggesting, Sir, (cupping his chin with his left hand) that before taking up this assignment none of your predecessors injected that measure of calm in the capital city?
No. I am not suggesting that, but it is reasonable to assume for them to highlight that factor suggests there is something different in what I am doing. I am not casting any aspersions or any blame, but people treat with things differently. Coming out of the insurance industry, my philosophy has always been people before paper.
How can you show love and care when some people can block the sidewalk with impunity, and what have you?
Yes, because I realise that there are many people who are unemployable with personal responsibilities and the politicians take advantage of that and they are allowed to do things that are wrong…
You do not see yourself as a politician?
Well, if politician means doing the best to make people life better and people development, yes. But if politics means fooling people and making promises which I cannot keep, no.
Is that a trademark of a good politician?
I have seen quite a lot of that in Trinidad and Tobago.
Any particular party?
No. No. It seems that in taking our country forward there has to be a regaining of the trust of the man in the street and so much has been done to erode that trust, and that is why Trinidad is almost a lawless society (frowning) now as everybody knows everybody.
An example?
A person may commit some offence, he is arrested and taken to a police station and someone at the station is a relative or a friend, and we have a tendency to see faces and not issues, therefore you have the tendency to compromise in such a situation.
Are you tempted, Mr Mayor, to adopt that kind of attitude in this office?
Well people know me and they know what to come to me with and what not to come to me with. I do not believe that at the end of the day we do anybody any favour when we perpetuate the wrong things. In other words, friends do not let friends drive drunk.
You said that we as a people were almost lawless, do you think that dishonesty is inherent in the average Trinbagonian?
(Pausing to accept a cell phone message from a senior government official) I don’t want to bring politicians in this, but what I could tell you is that it seems as if dishonesty and corruption is innate and that is sad, because you see children imitate what they see adults do, especially their parents.
Mr Mayor, this corporation is controlled by the Opposition People’s National Movement, have you all been experiencing difficulties in obtaining funds from the Central Government?
I have not found that, but I would hate to believe that people who are entrusted with the care of the city and development of our country would allow that kind of thinking to influence what they do. I have heard that, but I do not want to speculate. Let’s leave the PNM out of it because my decisions are based purely on what I see as the needs of the city and it is not influenced by any party or government.
And, let me say this, remember I have a business background and I have a fair idea of how monies are distributed, but some of the reasons why some funding was not forthcoming is that I am not sure that the proper processes were engaged.
From your end or the Central Government?
Well, yes, here. And I am not sure that enough support was provided to justify expenses. No. I am not saying that those expenses were not justified or not incurred, but there is a certain type of accountability that has to be observed if we are thinking of getting more. Another thing I observed is that coming out of the financial year we did not spend all the money that should have been spent.
You know, Your Worship, this is something that has always baffled me, how come most of these local government bodies return funds to the Central Government, why these councils cannot disburse all their funds, which I find is some kind of nonsense?
(Nodding his head in agreement) Well, it doesn’t make sense to me either and it appears to be a habit in the government service. As far as I am concerned, spend all the money in the first three quarters so long as there is the need for it and ask for more, but when you hear people returning money to the exchequer because of unspent balances, that disturbs me...it shows a lack of proper planning on what you had proposed to spend it on in the first instance.
Mr Mayor, let me turn to a very contentious matter which has cropped up at intervals over many years, installation of parking meters in the city. Why is this relatively simple matter so difficult to get off the ground especially when there is an obvious need for this facility in Port-of-Spain?
(Shuffling through some papers on his desk apparently looking for a document) As we speak now, there is a proposal which is in the possession of Government for parking…not meters, but the outcome and purpose is the same. Instead of having meters we are talking of barcodes which will be affixed on the windscreens or hanging on the rear view mirror of a vehicle. The traffic wardens will use laser guns to scan and get an appreciation of how long a motorist has been parked for which a fee would be paid to the City Council.
This is a more state-of-the-art device, but I find it is taking too long to get here. In effect, motorists would be purchasing parking time and we would be guided by the ministry as to how many streets would these devices be operating. It will be phased in gradually and eventually. I hope the entire city would be served in this regard.
How soon this would get off the ground, Mr Mayor?
Well, Clevon, you know I am not in government and I think it would depend on what they feel is a priority for them, but I certainly wished it would have been in operation a long time ago. It will be operated and controlled by the City Council and as I understand it, it is something which was recommended for all the corporations in the country.
I imagine this will be a big boost in terms of easing up traffic congestion?
Yes, and I imagine one would be looking at it with great anticipation but in the meantime, we are looking for open spaces we can convert to parking facilities in Port-of-Spain. We are also having a conversation on underground parking, this has been going on for a long while but nothing has yet been decided on this proposal.
Finally, Mr Mayor, we have spent all the time on your mayoral duties. In our next chat, we would be looking at T&T’s football post-Jack Warner...
(A broad smile) Yes. I am anxiously awaiting that interview.