The Editor, Sir:

The Portmore leg of Highway 2000 was sold to the residents as a faster, safer and more convenient way in and out the community. We are paying dearly for a service that is not being delivered.

From very early in the develop-mental process, many persons were very sceptical and some were very vociferous that it was just a money- making venture and convenience and comfort or discomfort thereof of the Portmore residents was not factored in.

My experience, especially since January, is that we are the worst off since the opening of the highway. I say this because it is now costing me one hundred dollars every time I go through the toll booth and the discomforts are more extreme. And, I only use the highway because the 'designated' alternative would not allow for my children to reach school on time because the school is closer to downtown.

It was shocking to hear the developer blaming the Government and conceding that the Portmore leg was just not going to work out without major improvements to Marcus Garvey Drive. Why the late admission?

I think that the people of Portmore have been held captive by a Government that openly proclaims that the interest of the people is always first on their agenda.

The only decent thing for the Government to do is to abandon the payment of toll on the Portmore leg until they have rectified the problems that currently exist not only with Marcus Garvey Drive but also with the Mandela Highway.

This is indeed highway robbery and the exploitation must stop now.

I am, etc.,

PAT BIGNAL

wilbig@cwjamaica.com