THE EDITOR, Sir:
LET ME state from the outset that I am a firm believer in the Highway 2000 project. I think it is the single most significant development in Jamaica since the advent of the bauxite industry. I also believe that, based on the overall development plans for that area, the existing causeway is expendable. I simply don't see the existing bridge remaining structurally sound for much longer and there is no merit whatsoever in preserving this road at the expense of the overall development for the area.
I think that the efforts of the Portmore residents are misdirected. They should focus their efforts on major improvements to the Mandela traffic light area and the Highway from that point into Kingston. Quite simply, with major improvements to that intersection and an additional lane from the traffic light to Six Miles, all their problems would be solved.
VIEWS
However, having said that, I respect the rights of any resident or group of residents to have a differing view and to pursue their view to their hearts content. This includes taking the matter to the courts if this is what they think is required. What I don't understand is the Government's attitude at this time.
It should be obvious by now that the project is about to be bogged down. We could see this issue in court for the next many years. And even if the courts rule in the Government's favour, we are going to see an exhibition of our country's ability to be disruptive (through both legal and illegal means) thereby causing delays, cost over-runs, ill-feelings and general mayhem. The progress is going to be stopped by people who are prepared to organize, organize, organise.
In the meantime, 2007 is fast approaching and the most significant viewing of our island to the outside world in the country's history is going to take place. With the decision to use Sabina Park as our World Cup Venue, we have undertaken a massive task. Whether we realise it or not we can only do this successfully if visitors can stay in our North Coast hotels and travel into Kingston for the games.
RUBBISH
The loose talk about cruise ships in Kingston Harbour as temporary hotels is total rubbish. At best, this will give the cruise lines an opportunity to cash-in on an event to which they have contributed nothing and at worse it is a recipe for a disaster. I simply do not want to see 10,000 tourists milling around in downtown Kingston (enough said on that).
Therefore, let's shift the effort to the Ocho Rios leg of the Highway. With this leg completed, a tourist in MoBay will be 2hours away from Kingston and Ocho Rios will be a mere 45 minutes. I am saying categorically that to host the World Cup without this leg of the Highway will be a disaster. I am not even sure that if we start now, it could be finished by 2007, but any further delay will be fatal.
While this is happening, the residents of Portmore can exhaust their options. At the end of that process Bouygues can decide if building this leg will be worth their while. I am reasonably confident that after another three years of using the existing road network (if the Bridge lasts that long), the residents of Portmore will have a more enlightened view of the benefits of this project. This is my view and I am sticking to it.
I am, etc.,
DONOVAN SUMMERS
dsummers@mail.infochan.com
