About two weeks ago, I had business to conduct at Sampar's Cash and Carry on the western side of Marcus Garvey Drive just below Three Miles.

I approached from Hagley Park Road, and found that once I got on to Marcus Garvey Drive (the eastern side), I could not turn right to get on to the western side to do my business. The solid concrete median forced me to continue right to the bottom of the road across the train tracks.

There, I faced a choice: Should I bear left on Marcus Garvey Drive towards the refinery hoping for a place to turn around, or should I bear right towards Portmore on a similar quest? I chose the latter, but found that there was nowhere to retrace my path.

Explaining my problem

Once I passed the Marcus Garvey turn-off, there was a solid wall on both sides right to the Portmore bridge toll plaza.

I stopped my car and approached the toll booth and asked to speak to the manager; the toll attendant called the supervisor and I asked him if I could speak with the manager.

He advised me that the manager would not come down to see me, and that I must deal with him. And that I could not park my car there, but had to move over to the soft shoulder.

I complied and explained my plight: I did not want to go to Portmore; I did not want to drive on the toll bridge; all I wanted to do was be allowed to return whence I came to do my business on Marcus Garvey Drive.

Flawed design

I was told that the solution to my problem was easy: all I had to do was pass through the toll booth twice - once going south and again returning north.

I explained that that was exactly what I did not want to do.

My problem was caused by a flawed design of the new traffic arrangements on Marcus Garvey Drive which did not allow motorists to approach business places on the west side of Marcus Garvey Drive coming from the north. And a flawed design on the access road to the toll bridge which did not allow motorists to turn around if they did not wish to cross the toll bridge.

He was unmoved and showed a lack of appreciation of customer service skills.

I asked him his name and he refused to give it.

I again asked to see the manager and he asked me to remove my car from the area.

I asked him if he intended to have me arrested and he walked away.

Speaking to the manager

The police came and after I explained my problem, they declined to arrest me.

They advised that I speak with the manager and offered to help.

Shortly after they went away, the manager appeared, speaking with me through the chain-link fence.

He was no more helpful than the supervisor.

The road was adequately signposted, and I had made a mistake; and to rectify the situation I had to pay two tolls.

He requested me to remove my car from the soft shoulder. I explained that I had parked where his staff member directed me.

Apparently, there is nowhere to park around the toll plaza to make a complaint or enter into a discussion with the toll operators. You must pay up now and ask questions later.

Enterprises suffering

I paid up. I passed through the toll plaza twice and went to do my business at Sampar's.

The managing director, Sam Richards, told me that enter-prises on that part of Marcus Garvey Drive were complaining that their businesses were suffering because of the changes in the configuration of the roadway.

Not only were their customers having difficulty in accessing his premises, but their suppliers were having difficulty getting their trucks into his warehouse. Their business losses were mounting up to millions of dollars.

I believe the arrangements for the toll plaza are unconscionable. There should be provision for persons to turn around if for whatever reason they decline to use the bridge.

And there should be a place for customers - irate or otherwise - to park their cars and enter into peace talks with the toll road operators without the police being called on them. You should not be required to pay first and ask questions later.

Peter Espeut is a sociologist and a Roman Catholic deacon.