Parking Officer
February 11, 2009
Givi Inanashvili, 65, has been working as a parking officer on Kostava Street #67 for about three years. All day long, he helps people to park and get in and out of parking spaces safely.
Inanashvili, who has a secondary education, was a taxi driver for about 17 years, but because of his age he decided to change his job. To be a parking officer is definitely not his desired job; he would rather be a security guard.
Although there is a sign at his parking area announcing that parking costs 50 tetri, he says most drivers treat him as a beggar.
“It would be much easier for me to be a guard. I am very tired with begging the whole time,” he said with tears in his eyes and added, “It is very hard for me to work here, because I am ashamed.”
Even though the official price of parking is 50 tetri, most drivers give him just 20 or 30 tetri.
“Some of them do not give me even a tetri and start quarreling and shouting at me, saying, ‘Why should I pay? I do not need your help,’ he said.
Despite his tiring job, from 9 o’clock in the morning till 5 in the evening, he earns just about 4 lari per day. However, he still thinks that there are many kind people living in Tbilisi.
“I remember once a young man presented me with 30 lari. I never forget this day,” he said.
He is the only breadwinner in his family. His monthly income is about 200 lari, including 82 lari from his pension. He has two orphaned grandchildren, and out of 4 lari he earns in a day, 2 lari belongs to them, so they have money to get to university and then back home.
“In other case, I would definitely give up my job,” Ianishvili said.
Twice while talking, he interrupted the conversation and rushed as fast as he could, to avoid losing 20 tetri.
