THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE PORTMORE leg of the highway is well on its way and even though it's obvious for all to see, there exists far more questions than answers about the project.
Firstly, the Causeway Bridge is now the property of the Port Authority and will be taken down to facilitate expansion of the port. The question is, on what terms and conditions did the government hand over the bridge that was paid for by the residents of Portmore? Where are the proceeds and what do they plan to do with it? What plans do they have to provide residents of the 'Dorm' access to their rooms?
There is information to suggest that the highly touted expansion of the Mandela Highway is no longer on. This is hardly surprising as the toll is structured to maximise revenue and success is measured in terms of project cost recovery. Toll authorities will discourage the development of alternative routes. Hence by the non-development of the Mandela Highway, the congested bottleneck will force people to use the toll road. Question, who authorises this development? Is NROC? The Government? Or the investors? For sure the people of Portmore cannot win. Jobs will be lost, economic improvements will decline and citizens who feel that they have been sold out by the Government will relocate to areas where they don't have to pay to access their homes and businesses.
Final question is, why is there so much difficulty in revealing the toll rate? The Honourable Minister said that the $65 was a misquotation. But is this true? Section 10 of the Toll Act 2002 states that: A toll order may provide for a concessionary.
(a) On a date or at the end of a period
(b) On a date determined by reference to: (i) the achievement of a specified objective, or
(ii) The passage of a specified number of vehicles.
It is therefore clear that the formula used to calculate the concessionary period of 35 years is known, as well as the rate per vehicle. Somebody needs to speak up. Time is going!
I am, etc.,
HOWARD HAMILTON
Portmore Pines
St. Catherine
