THE EDITOR, Sir:THE PEOPLE of Portmore are in limbo over the toll issue and many are concerned and dissatisfied with the attitude of the present government.
On March 6, 1999 I wrote a letter to the Editor of the Gleaner proposing the building of a special bridge in Lucea, Hanover and subsequently charging a toll for using it. A few weeks later on April 15, 1999 I saw an article thanking me for the idea in "From The Cornwall Front Page" of The Gleaner.
It took about two and a half years later before I saw something from the Government concerning the imposition of toll booths on our roads. In a subsequent letter to me, I was asked to call a Mr. Joseph Hibbert, chief technical officer in the Ministry of Transport and Works who was from the Bridge Building Department at the Hagley Park Road office to have further dialogue with him. Maybe they thought I had great expertise concerning the issue. Unfortunately I did not have any grand knowledge of the matter. I was just a thinker who wanted to use the print media to solve the problems of the day.
In the letter that I wrote I suggested that we could generate money for the repair of the bridge just as the Americans were doing with the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. I also said the money could also be used for other purposes. The published letter was entitled "Toll bridge needed". The government agencies thought I had had prior discussion with the authorities in Lucea concerning a toll bridge.
I am now embarrassed to acknowledge the reality of the toll and the great impact it has had on the Jamaican populace. I guess if I am responsible, I am guilty of undermining decent poor people striving for prosperity. The government is charging too much. The people just cannot afford so much.
I am, etc.,
PARIS TAYLOR
Greater Portmore, St Catherine
bighot43@yahoo.com
