Robert Hart and John Myers Jr., Staff Reporters
PRIME MINISTER P.J. Patterson has instructed a high-level government team to meet with Portmore residents to find a solution to the ongoing toll road dispute. Last week's meeting between Transport and Works Minister, Robert Pickersgill, and residents ended in deadlock.
Making the disclosure yesterday at the weekly Cabinet press briefing, Information Minister, Senator Burchell Whiteman, that the team would examine the issue and attempt to determine the most acceptable course of action.
"I think there is a high level of confidence that it can and will be resolved but that next step is an important part of the process," Senator Whiteman told journalists at Jamaica House.
Portmore residents have argued that the government has failed to produce a suitable alternative to the six-lane toll highway that will be replacing the existing roadway.
Yesterday, Senator Whiteman indicated that the team of government ministers and officials will begin talks with Portmore community leaders in a matter of days.
APPROACHES AND OPTIONS
The information minister noted, however, that there were "specific approaches and options" which would be examined.
Already, several civic groups have suggested points for negotiations. The Heather Wallen-Bryan-led Greater Portmore Joint Council has passed a resolution calling for a 'one-way' toll, a concessionary toll of $30 and a cap of 20 per cent on subsequent increases after three years, as well the construction of a pedal cycle track parallel to the toll highway, among other proposals.
Another group, the All Hellshire Leadership Council, has proposed government's contribution of 20 per cent of its share of toll revenue towards the Portmore Municipal Council. The funds are to be used to finance community-based
projects. The Hellshire council also wants the toll road developers to rehabilitate the Port Henderson Road which leads on to Highway 2000.
HIGH-LEVEL MEETING
"When the prime minister calls a high-level meeting of that nature, then you have the best chance to make whatever adjustments (and) change whatever directions need to be changed in order to arrive at a resolution," Senator Whiteman said yesterday.
"This is good news I believe that the people have been heard so that the prime minister is now going to respond," said the Reverend Barrington Soares, chairman of the Portmore Joint Citizens Association, in response to the prime minister's announcement. He, however, noted that he would reserve giving an official response on behalf of the council as he needed more time to consult with members.
In the meantime, Trevor Jackson, managing director of Trans-Jamaican Highway (TJH), the toll road concessionaire, said his bosses in France have described the current impasse as a political football and is waiting on the government to resolve the impasse before deciding on their next move.
"I think that they (his bosses) now accept that right now, the
project is a political football, so once the goalkeeper catches the ball, we can then decide what to do," Mr. Jackson told The Gleaner yesterday.
