MoBay business group 'will not condone' toll for Long Hill bypass

Oral Heaven, president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has signaled that the organisation will be fighting against attempts by the authorities to include a toll on the Long Hill bypass in St James.

"We need to look at the perimeter road; serious business. The toll, I mean, having a toll for the Long Hill road, which is a necessary road, that is something that the chamber will not condone,” Oral Heaven told The Gleaner following his re-election as president for a third time on Wednesday. 

Last month,  the state-owned National Road Operating and Constructing Company (NROCC) told hoteliers that the bypass will be developed into a four-lane dual carriageway as part of the Montego Bay Perimeter Road project, which is under construction.

Errol Mortley, environmental manager at the NROCC, said the project consultant "advised NROCC that it would make a lot more sense if we design a four-lane road and to have it fit with the Montego Bay bypass road and include tolling facilities with it". 

NROCC said because the Long Hill section of the project will have six kilometres of four passing lanes, two toll booths would be required. A toll plaza on the Montego Bay Perimeter Road will be located in the Irwin area.

Four lanes, toll for Long Hill bypass

Heaven said the group does not support the decision for the bypass. 

"We definitely will have to speak with the powers that be about that," said Heaven, the Centre Director of Scotiabank Private Banking.

He was re-elected unopposed at the chamber's annual general meeting at The University of the West Indies Mona Western Jamaica Campus. 

He said a major plank of his new term will be to increasing lobbying for members. “Lobbying means our members have to speak to us. We beg our members to tell us because we work on your behalf.  So we have to push them to help us to help them."

“There is much work to be done in the next seven months, which will be the shortest administration in the history of this chamber. Our focus will remain steadfast on continuing to focus on providing first class healthcare through Cornwall Regional Hospital. Also, collective security and strengthening partnerships with all relevant agencies, from the police to the municipal,” Heaven said.

The top leadership of the chamber includes businessman Yangsen Li who will remain as first vice-president and Nadine Spence, Sixt Rent-A-Car managing director and area chapter chairman of the Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association's Montego Bay who has been elevated to second vice-president.

Attorney-at-Law Paulette Neil has been elected as third vice-president.

-Ashley Anguin

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