MP recommends granting ease for Portmore toll hikes

WITH THE pending July 1 increase in toll charges about to be unfolded, member of parliament (MP) for St Catherine South Eastern, Robert Miller, has offered suggestions on how Portmore residents could get some relief from the expected hike.

In a direct criticism of the contract that was signed by the People’s National Party (PNP) administration in 2003 for a total of 35 years -that provides for a toll increase every year - Miller said the people of Portmore were ambushed and their rights of passage taken away from them wrongfully.

“The reality is a clause in the contract that states that every year in July there must be an increase in the toll rate which cannot be reversed,” Miller said.

He added: “Failure to do so, the Government of Jamaica would have to take up the cost, which would not be prudent for the Government.”

Against this background, the St Catherine South East MP is recommending that every citizen in Portmore obtain a tag issued free at the toll booth that would give discounts and for certain classes of vehicles, there would be no rate change.

Safety measure

Miller, during a news conference at his Portmore office on Tuesday, also recommended that a rail barrier be placed around the toll booths as a safety measure to protect employees, given an incident that transpired recently, where a motorist crashed his car into the toll booth.

Taking into consideration the environmental impact of more vehicles accessing the dormitory community both ways daily, Miller is lobbying for the implementation of a ferry system from Portmore to Kingston, which, he offered, could reduce the carbon footprint, with the added value of reducing congestion on the road.

He also suggested a carpooling system and incentives to persons who practise carpooling as strategies that could ease travelling costs for Portmore citizens.

Miller, in his wide-ranging remarks, called for the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) to reintroduce the Number 7 bus from downtown Kingston and Half Way Tree to Waterford, claiming that he had written to the previous transport minister and the current one about the issue.

He noted that with Portmore poised to be Jamaica’s 15th parish, the people of Portmore are requesting that an Island Traffic Authority examination depot be placed in Portmore to eliminate the need to go to Spanish Town or Kingston for this type of service.

Also, the closure of the Portmore office of the Jamaica Public Service company has placed a burden on the elderly population, who have to traverse to Spanish Town to conduct business, according to Miller. He is calling for the light and power company to reopen the office, suggesting that the closure was premature.

The MP also wants what he described as the cashless system now being experienced at the two largest banks – National Commercial Bank and Scotiabank – in Portmore be addressed so as to cut down on the length of time that residents must wait to be served.

Residents in Portmore on Monday reported that they were unable to get cash withdrawals from ATM machines.

Miller said no reasons were offered by the banks for the lack of service.

ruddy.mathison@gleanerjm.com