WILLEMSTAD - The representatives of the four districts of Willemstad; Scharloo, Otrobanda, Pietermaai and Punda are asking the government to refrain from a public tender for parking management. They are seriously concerned about the consequences of the public tender with a view to the revitalization of the unique historic city center. The experience of the past 10 years and the knowledge of the current situation teaches us that entering into a contract with a private organization - without direct involvement of the stakeholders - is the death knell for the city center.
The city center urgently needs funds for maintenance, infrastructure improvements, security and cleaning. The parking fees that are collected in our city center should therefore flow back to the city center and not to a commercial organization that has no interest in the development of the city center. The government has named the revitalization of the city center as one of its spearheads. All the more reason to make the right decisions now.
The 4 districts, which are all non-profit making, propose a Public-Private Partnership so that the released parking proceeds can be invested back in the city center.