Ming: Changes Likely To Impact Retail Sales

September 25, 2013

The parking changes planned by the City are likely to negatively impact retail sales which could “usher in another round of redundancies in the already shrinking retail sector,” Shadow Minister for Municipalities Senator Renee Ming said.

This past weekend the Corporation announced they plan to make changes to parking in Hamilton, including cost reductions in some cases, extending the area that parking fees must be paid, as well as employ “aggressive” clamping of cars parked in spaces designated for residents.

Reacting to the news, the Chamber of Commerce had said, “Change is often hard for many, so the Chamber will be watching carefully to see how the proposed amendments to the current parking Ordnance will be phased in.

“Like members east and west, our City members have yet to see any upswing in the economy and they are all extremely cost conscious. It will therefore be imperative for the City to ensure that they implement these changes in a fair and equitable manner so as not to anger or deter potential customers.

“While we appreciate the City’s needs to find additional sources of income, it is equally important for them to ensure that the City remains alive and vibrant,” concluded the Chamber.

Senator Ming said, “The PLP joins with the Chamber of Commerce in questioning the Corporation of Hamilton’s changes to parking in the city. We share their view that this move will create yet another obstacle to encouraging consumers to support local businesses in Hamilton.

“This move is likely to further erode consumption, and negatively impact retail sales. All of which could usher in another round of redundancies in the already shrinking retail sector. In this economy, it simply isn’t worth the risk.

“We further believe that the average Bermudian is already been asked to sacrifice through pay freezes, pay cuts and job losses. An additional burden is not needed at this time.

“The Corporation of Hamilton will soon see wharfage fees return and with it an influx of revenue. We call on the Mayor and his team to reconsider parking changes for one year to assess if this new revenue will meet their financial needs.

“We also believe that an assessment of the existing quantity of residential, paid and commercial parking is needed to determine what, if any changes are needed to reflect 2013 Bermuda and beyond.

“We ask that the Corporation join with us and other stakeholders in trying to preserve and grow jobs in this vital sector of our community,” said Senator Ming.

Yesterday [Sept 24] Minister of Home Affairs Michael Fahy met with Mayor Graeme Outerbridge and Ed Benevides to discuss the Government’s concerns with planned changes, and it has been agreed that Corporation representatives will meet with the Attorney General’s representatives to examine the Parking Ordinance prior to it becoming effective.

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Comments (27)

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  1. X MAN says:

    Just when Shops are trying to bounce back from an economy downfall this decision is made.
    I know the COH needs money but they could be shooting themselves in the foot.

    • B. Trump says:

      Thanks ah saying that Sen Ming, so trueee, it is key during this economic time guess once again it is the small man whom will pay the piper, as usual, while the shops take another hit. What’s new REALLY !!

  2. Whistling Frog says:

    Just increase parking fines and apply late fee when not paid in the 30 day requirement. Also hire more meter maids to increase the Corporations revenue as this would catch more people who are parked illegally, the little meter maids already working seem so miserable and don’t seem consistent. I am sure they are doing their best with what they have.

  3. Concerned Local Bermudian says:

    This is absolutely nonsense! Last time I checked in almost all major shopping areas, you have to pay for street or lot parking. Where are the facts behind this statement? Please explain exactly how you see this impacting jobs? I went shopping on Saturday, parked in CityHall car park. This won’t change! At least Bull’s Head parking will be cheaper! I get the clamping bit might be tough…but if you obey the rules you don’t get clamped? Your jump to unemployment is, at best, at long stretch!

    We Bermudians need to understand we’re billions in debt and, with a declining population, taxes all around will eventually go up! If someone is saying otherwise, they not facing reality. To not be willing to accept paying more taxes is almost suicidal! We’re broke! Stop complaining… If we are to get out of the mess left by the last government, we’ll all have to contribute more. Its simple math!

    For a politician to espouse such nonsense is irresponsible. He/she should know exactly the government’s financial position. We need to field knowledgeable and effective parliamentary representatives at this stage in our history. Unsubstantiated comments like this will only go to make the climb out of the red more difficult!

    I’m realistic and expect more tax… I can foresee, for a fixed period, a sales tax in the future to help us get out of this mess. What will the PLP representative say about that? Not willing? Well, we’ll face bankruptcy if you object to all new taxes for sure! Cutting the deficit won’t get us of debt… New revenue sources and more tax contributions will!

    Perhaps we need to give out new citizenships to high net worth individuals (job creators). We need to swallow reality quickly before it’s too late!

    Amazingly uninformed!

    • blessed says:

      This isn’t government this is the CoH wanting more money to take useless trips to Columbia for international business when they have publicly stated that international business had contributed to the fragmentation of the island’s social fabric.
      The stores in town are already struggling to keep the sales people employed. If the CoH continues to make it difficult to access the downtown shops then sales will go down resulting in sales people being let go and jobless.

    • lmao says:

      obviously your amazingly uninformed that its not a govt entity but a private sector company. yes it will impact sales as well, people are lazy, they don’t like to walk its sad but true.

  4. thief says:

    is she almost siding with OBA thinking ?

    (about parking, not equal rights or International Business)

  5. yesman says:

    This is the sorta stuff that happens when you have a mall in the City. The parking issue is hard to sort out. If the mall was in a residential area parking wouldn’t be an issue.

    I’m not sure if the charging people to park more would deter folk from coming to town on a Saturday. It’s not like people go to Washington mall at 8:00pm on a Tuesday or Wednesday to shop. It only really one day and everyone knows to bring their meter, blue slips or just pay at City Hall parking lot for a few hours. It’s not really that big of an issue.

    Businesses should also add eCommerce to their websites and sell products and services through the Internet. This way people can shop 24/7 at their on leisure.

    • Loquatz says:

      The cost of building and maintaining the shopping cart would outstrip sales: these things are dependent on volume, and Bermuda has no volume.

  6. Vote for Me says:

    I hope that more people address this concern. It is not so much about the increase but about how practical it is.

    Does anyone have more information about charging for bike parking?

    • Sandy Bottom says:

      “It’s not so much the increase but how practical it is”?

      What does that mean? That you can’t work out whether to support it or speak against it?

  7. Loquatz says:

    If they start charging for bikes, I’ll be seriously pissed. Why does the media not ask them directly: “Your Ordinance allows for charging for bike parking – do you intend to do so?”

    • Y-Gurl says:

      I thought the tax the business pay covered city maintenance and customer parking and access to that business, if not then apart from paying their high salaries what is it for I wonder

  8. watching says:

    All they need to do is enforce payment of parking tickets.

  9. Vote for Me says:

    Good news!!

    The proposed Municipalities amendment that will be debated on Friday allows the Minister to override any Municipality Ordinances. Let’s hope Minister Fahy exercises his new powers before October and gets the Corporation to rescind these changes.

    Isn’t the Corporation happy about getting wharfage back. Not as much as last time but they will at least get wharfage from the container ships!!

  10. My Kind says:

    Charging for bikes is just beyond a joke. If I pay for my bike, I’d better have a car space for it. What about tourist bikes?? Haha just a joke – never happen. They should be ENCOURAGING people to take bikes so it cuts down on cars. Does anyone at COH have a brain?

  11. Y-Gurl says:

    Beneveides keeps ranting on about this is not for revenue its all about “modifying behavior” what a crock of **@# it is not in their remit to modify anyone’s behavior its REVENUE and the fact he again gets his autocratic way

  12. Al says:

    Hilarious. It was the PLP that took away the city’s revenue… And now they are complaining when the city is forced to raise parking costs.

  13. get real says:

    Businesses are not going to suffer because of an increased paid parking area, they are suffering because the people working at the shops don’t give a damn about the customers. Shop owners need to get real and be in the shops daily and see what kind of rude ignorant behavior goes on in the shops. Customer service on Front Street is lame at best but mostly customers just get ignored while employees gossip with friends in loud annoying conversations or sit on a stool with their faces in their phones.

    These employees need to get up off their lazy buts, walk around the stores, greet customers, SMILE sometimes, talk to people, be NICE, offer assistance, ask how their day is and genuinely care about the answer…. and leave your phone in your bag until there are no customers or your shift is over.

    If they can’t do this they should be fired! There are lots of people here looking for work and eventually you will find an employee worth the paycheque.

    I have a strong, excellent customer service background and the shops here just don’t offer a pleasant experience, I order everything online now. And THAT is why shops are suffering, not because of a few dollars spent on parking.

    get with the program.

    • B. Trump says:

      @get Real, you are correct and have made some valid comments. But if parking becomes an issues folks will not want to stop in to the shops anyway. But you are correct.

      • get real says:

        I am happy that you agree. I REALLY wish there was something I could do about it. Bermuda really needs to raise the bar on what type of people are hired to represent their businesses.

        • B. Trump says:

          This is true, as there are some stores I would like to go in more frequently, but the staff are not too nice at all.

  14. My Kind says:

    Make more bike spaces – a lot more, and keep them free. Encourage people to use bikes – get rid of cars from Hamilton. Charging for bikes is idiotic.

  15. Not Surprised says:

    As someone who lives within city limits I agree with increasing the boundaries for pay parking to Victoria Street and clamping for those who park in designated residential parking areas. If I am off from work on a weekday and decide to leave home for a bit, you can be guaranteed that someone will park in a designated residential parking spot.

    I feel CofH must generate additional revenue instead of increasing city taxes every year. Why must I pay additional taxes for the rest of the island to benefit from CofH services? If the public don’t want to pay for parking then I suggest you speak with your MP to have government push to have the dock fees re-instated. That was a major stream of revenue for the corporation that was taken away. BTW, before you try to turn this into a PLP bashing session let me remind you that the OBA promised to have this re-instated once they were elected. I’m still waiting!!!!

  16. Vote for Me says:

    @ not surprised
    Dock fees are being reinstated with the new Municipalities Bill on Friday.

    Paying to park a bike seems to be the start on a long dark road.

  17. Bermuda Male says:

    Guess the PLP should have never taken away their main source of revenue in the first place….

    • B. Trump says:

      Well you can now breath and exhale, as the OBAubp are putting reversing this, so why should the CoH collect both?