THE EDITOR, Sir:

When the Portmore leg of Highway 2000 was being introduced, the 'government in waiting' (the Jamaica Labour Party) argued that the Government (the People's National Party) was being unfair to the people of that part of St Catherine by imposing a charge on people to leave and enter their homes.

The people of Portmore were promised a better deal to include a rollback in the rates.

But what did they get instead? Two increases, the latest coming while citizens were domiciled and fast asleep on the night of Friday, September 4.

According to news reports, Minister Mike Henry's response was that the Government asked the Toll Authority and the operators to delay the increase and that any shortfall would be absorbed by the state. If this report is true then it begs the question: To whom is the Toll Authority accountable and to whom are the operators responsible? Is this a case of the tail wagging the dog?

At a time when workers are faced with wage freezes and job losses, it is difficult to understand why any sensible person could find it prudent to impose further increases on the consumers without recognising the implications for such a move.

First, the laws of economics teach us that in time the commuters will not be able to pay the toll rates and will have to give up the luxury of the toll road for the alternative routes, which will create more traffic on those roads.

Objective lost

If the objective was quicker commuting then that will be lost.

Second, the unending patience of motorists suffering quietly will also come to an end and one never knows where that will end.

As was suggested at the inception, the rates should be placed at levels that encourage increased use rather than forcing people away from the toll roads.

Be reminded that while interest rates on loans were rising in the 1990s and the banks were getting rich, their customers were getting poorer. Let it not be the case that the toll roads are wreaking super returns while the motorists and passengers are getting poorer as, like the banks, the toll plazas may come crashing down.

I am, etc.,

WAYNE JONES

wstaj2005@yahoo.co.uk