THE EDITOR, Sir:
RESIDENTS OF Portmore and adjoining districts should be exempt from paying a toll leading into their communities for the following reasons:
As a result of a shortened distance (via the Causeway) between Portmore and Kingston, several residents purchased their homes to capitalize on a low mileage to facilitate their work and businesses in Kingston in the last 15-20 years.
At the time of purchase, no developmental plan was cited for consideration indicating a parallel road that would be tolled at some future date.
Information on a toll system was not adequately and comprehensively presented to residents to elicit their views. For instance, neither in the newspapers nor the electronic media was the information properly ventilated like when their votes are being solicited.
MANDELA HIGHWAY
Then came the developer of Highway 2000. Proper planning, logistics, sensitivity and respect should have guided their thinking that a tolled system would be undesirable leading directly into a community.
Mandela Highway is not an ideal alternative to residents of Portmore. It is already a major congestion route between Spanish Town (Old Harbour roundabout) and the Caymanas crossings.
The developer had a choice in the routing of the new road and failed to exercise that judgement. In light of the above, Portmore residents should resist any imposition of a toll leading into their community.
I am, etc.,
WINSTON CLARKE
winstoncl@cybervale.com
Hellshire, St. Catherine
