Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter
A senior police officer directs traffic in the vicinity of Mandela Highway and the Caymanas crossing with vehicles coming from Portmore, St. Catherine, yesterday. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
HUNDREDS OF Portmore residents made good on their promise to boycott the Portmore leg of the toll road yesterday as they joined long lines of traffic on the Mandela Highway.
As early as 6:00 a.m., residents from that community, who would have normally used the Portmore Causeway, could be seen entering the Mandela Highway while the traffic flowed smoothly.
The residents are boycotting the $60 non-frequent user fee for Class One motorists, which was recently announced by the Government. They say a $30 toll is more reasonable.
Georgia, a resident from Waterford, was among the many who supported the boycott.
TOLL TOO MUCH
"They are asking too much (the toll). I have to travel to Portmore back and fro and I personally can't afford it," she said as she patiently waited in the long line.
"It is too high. When they want our vote dem come to us but when dem a set the toll, we don't see dem. Thirty dollars and no more!" said an angry resident.
When asked if she would be late for work, she responded: "I don't mind the wait."
Meanwhile, the police were kept busy as they directed traffic on to Mandela Highway.
Inspector Nigel Cunningham, of the traffic department, at the Elletson Road Police Station in Kingston, who was on the ground directing traffic, said the traffic volume was very high.
"We patrolled as far back as Independence City and the area is congested with vehicular traffic," he said. "It is very high in comparison to two weeks ago."
The traffic tapered off after 8:00 to 9:00 in the morning.
SATISFIED WITH SUPPORT
But, chairman of the Portmore Citizens' Advisory Committee (PCAC), Yvonne McCormack, said she was satisfied with the support residents had given to the boycott.
"As far as I could see, the reaction was what we had expected, it was very good. A lot of people were in the traffic for a little while. It is something that we had expected, but it was very heartening to see the citizens using the alternative route this morning (yesterday)," she said.
Mrs. McCormack said the residents would continue with the boycott.
