LETTER OF THE DAY - Highway 2000 toll set-up a real rip-off
Published:Monday | August 27, 2012 | 12:00 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
Residents of Longville Park and other affected communities in the parish of Clarendon have been expressing concern about the lack of access to the toll road from Sandy Bay.
Having travelled to Manchester since the opening of the May Pen artery of Highway 2000, I must first say kudos to the engineers and other workmen for a fine job. The finished work seems to be of a high standard.
However, closing off the entry/exit from Sandy Bay is a big rip-off of motorists. The action carried out by TransJamaican Highway Ltd and its partners, by blocking off that original entry/exit from Sandy Bay, is tantamount to rape.
To enter the Vineyards Toll Plaza now, you have to pay another toll on entering the May Pen leg of the highway. There is no turning back. Why was the option not given that if you were not desirous of proceeding on to the May Pen leg of the highway, you could continue along towards Sandy Bay?
TransJamaica needs to admit that it has 'short-circuited' the system by not creating a flyover/underpass road at the location where it has now blocked. I would imagine that the toll authority would generate more revenue by double-charging.
Has the Toll Authority taken into consideration the many motorists it has deprived by such a callous decision? Certainly, the argument will arise: motorists travelling from Longville Park, Sandy Bay and other communities can gain access to the toll road from Freetown. But when you do the maths, it does not work out in the motorists' favour.
NO CONSIDERATION
I think the residents of the affected communities should protest, lawfully, and not relent until the matter is addressed.
This is a clear indictment on the quality of political representation in this country.
Many times, decisions are taken by our political leaders because they have implications for a particular group, and no consideration is given as to what could be the likely effect on the state.
Like Esau in the Bible, Jamaica has often been too willing to sell its 'birthright' to the multinationals and other interest groups without due consideration.
DALBERT LAING