The Editor, Sir:

The Highway 2000 toll charges have become a topical issue within the public sphere. In exploring the topic I would suggest that in any business venture one has to consider incremental increases in price of goods and services over the life of the business in order to sustain it as a going concern. It is with this in mind that I suggest that any increased cost incurred in providing these goods or services must be passed on to the consumer who must assess the validity of such an increase.

The previous PNP administration entered into contractual agreements with National Road Operating and Constructing Company (NROCC) and other entities regarding Highway 2000, but full disclosure of the arrangements are yet to be publicized thus giving the Jamaican public the ability to determine the plausibility of the contract(s) and in so doing determine whether the current charges and pending increases to use the road, both directly by the toll and indirectly through government subsidies, are justified. The Prime Minister, the Hon Bruce Golding, made the following statement regarding the cost of Highway 2000: "When the plans for Highway 2000 were rolled out, it was not our understanding that the taxpayers of Jamaica were going to be called upon to pay for it. It is now the reality that we are going to have to face,"

questions

My questions are as follows

What are the details of the Highway 2000 contract(s)?

What were the explored choices, especially where the Portmore leg is concerned?

What is the real highway cost per capita to the Jamaican taxpayer?

Who are the principals/directors of the companies(s) operating Highway 2000?

What is the current financial status as it relates to budgets/projections?

What is the SWOT analysis of Highway 2000 relating to all its segments of construction?

It must be a entrenched in our national policies that no government should give any profit guarantee to any company/investor and, as such, NROCC must be seen as a business in the same light as other Jamaican entities which are expected to profit based on prudent and innovative management structures fuelled by a satisfied consumer. We cannot allow the Jamaican people to be plundered because of government or individual incompetence as they sign away our birthright in the name of foreign investment, at their pleasure.

Until such questions are answered the toll must not be increased.

NOTE: Portmore must resist all attempts by NROCC to acquire increases that were delayed because of the election. We should also rise up against the pending frequent requests for increases to the toll. If it is $60 now, what will the toll be by the end of 2008, based on expressed contractual clauses? Portmore must make up its mind as to what it wants!

I am, etc.,

Rev. DELROY R. DOBNEY

delroyrdobney@gmail.com

Chairman Gregory Park Community Development Council

Portmore

St Catherine

Via Go-Jamaica