Govt policy caused toll rate hike, says Henry

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Monday, July 08, 2013 | 10:21 AM

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Former Transport and Works Minister, Mike Henry, has blamed the Government’s policies for last week’s hike in toll rates. Henry said that the increase was a direct result of the administration’s financial plans for the country, which are now inextricably linked to the recently signed agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).He added that all forms of road transportation rates will be subjected to annual increases over the next four years, with the Portmore community bearing the brunt of the increased costs, as “it is clear that the Government and the IMF have agreed that the Jamaican dollar is overvalued”.The Central Clarendon Member of Parliament (MP) noted that over its four and a half years in office, the former Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) administration approved only one toll increase. In contrast, the present administration has approved an increase after only a year in office. He said the JLP Government had renegotiated to an annual toll review, as against the bi-annual review that was established by the People’s National Party (PNP). Henry said the JLP, by keeping of the Jamaican dollar stable and fostering plans to diversify to a multi-modal transport plan, gave the pubic choices in terms of the economic cost to travel. For example, the passenger rail service was re-introduced with a plan to service the corridors between Gregory Park and Mandeville, and Gregory Park and Linstead, then into Kingston by 2014.Henry said as Transport Minister, he struck a genuine balance among the applicable factors to ensure that toll rates were only increased when absolutely necessary. He said that approach has shifted to one where “the commuting public, especially residents of Portmore who have been logistically exploited by the toll arrangements, have become like sitting ducks under the Government’s present approach.”The former minister said that while it was the right of the toll operator to seek increases at the applicable times, it was the prerogative of the Government when to grant such increases, bearing in mind all the factors relative to the toll rates. He said Government was about “being strong and in the best interest of the people; not being spineless and caving into every form of external pressure against the interest of the Jamaican people”.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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Govt policy caused toll rate hike, says Henry