Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer
Traffic on the Portmore leg of Highway 2000 on Monday, July 17, the first day of the workweek following the official opening of the toll road on Saturday, July 15. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer
Spanish Town, St. Catherine
Spiritual
leader Reverend Al Miller has endorsed the toll boycott by residents of Portmore,
St. Catherine, and labelled their cause "just and righteous."
Rev. Miller told persons attending the Portmore Toll Boycott Rally at the Lions Civic Centre in the municipality Monday night, that even the Almighty God was in support of the cause.
He said the action taken by the Portmore residents might seem small but that Jamaica as a nation was depending heavily on it.
"People must hold Government responsible for their actions and any act of disrespect must be met with strong opposition from the people," Rev. Miller said. "For too long the Jamaican people have allowed the nine-day talk to let the Government get away with things."
The pastor of Fellowship Tabernacle in St. Andrew, who was in a no nonsense mood, said the residents needed to go on the street corners, to the dances, to the Church and to community events to get the word out to all. He said that the Portmore toll was one issue that, if the residents remained resolute, would have spin-off effects on all of Jamaica.
He also said that, contrary to the residents' willingness to pay a $30 toll, he believed no toll should be paid.
Us
comparison
"When you purchased your houses here, I understand that you paid money to have the causeway built as a way to your home," he said. "So how them come now wanting you to pay again? It is wrong and you must stand firm." He said that having checked the toll in comparison to those in the United States, Portmore residents will be paying US$0.31 per mile as opposed to the US$0.04
paid there.
According to Yvonne McCormack, chairperson of the Portmore Citizens' Advisory Council, residents will continue, under the watch of the group, to agitate for a rollback in the toll.
