Use of recently opened Mount Rosser bypass falls by a third

Thursday, October 02, 2014 | 10:27 AM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica — National Operating and Road Operating Company (NROCC) admitted Wednesday that use of the recently opened Mount Rosser bypass leg of Highway 2000, has fallen by a more than a third since it has started collecting a toll last month.

NROCC’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ivan Anderson, confirmed at yesterday’s meeting of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC), that before toll payments were implemented, the road was attracting approximate 5,000 to 6,000 vehicles per day. He said, however, that this has fallen to 3,000 to 4,000 vehicles per day, with the change to a toll road.

Motorists were allowed to use the road free of cost for one month after it was opened in August. Toll rates implemented in September were $200 for Class 1 vehicles (cars), $420 for Class 2 vehicles (SUVs) and $1,000 for trucks.

Anderson said, however, that despite the reduced number of cars, there was not loss to the toll operators because of the increased toll charges.

Financial information NROCC has provided the PAAC on its performance between January and July this year has shown that it has accumulated a deficit of $46 billion, and long-term debt of $68 billion.

The main balance sheet showed that NROCC has assets of some $22 billion, however, its total liabilities are close to $69 billion primarily due to long-term loans totalling some $53 billion.

The National Road Operating and Construction Company is a wholly owned Government company, formed under the Companies Act, and has responsibility for ensuring the implementation of Highway 2000.

Balford Henry

View the original article here

Use of recently opened Mount Rosser bypass falls by a third

Pound Sterling falls to 10 month low

The pound has fallen to its lowest level in 10 months amid uncertainty about Scotland’s future within the UK. 
The currency fell 1.3% against the US dollar yesterday to US$1.61.
It also fell one percent against the euro.

It has also fallen against the Jamaican dollar moving down from J$197.67 to one pound on July 22 to J$182.27 when the foreign exchange market closed Monday evening. 

The weakening came after a poll suggested supporters of an independent Scotland had taken a narrow lead in the referendum debate for the first time. 
Shares in Scottish-based firms suffered sharp falls on the stock market.

View the original article here

Pound Sterling falls to 10 month low

73-Y-O FALLS INTO 170 ft CAVE - Body still not recovered

Bjorn Burke, Staff Reporter

Today, authorities will continue their attempts to remove the body of an elderly man from a 170ft deep chasm a week after its discovery in Retirement, St Elizabeth.

He has been identified as 73-year-old Aston Thompson of a Retirement, St Elizabeth, address.

Thompson was reportedly last seen at a shop in his community on July 12, and reported missing to the police by family members on July 13. On July 20, a week after, Thompson was reported missing. The grim discovery was made by residents who reportedly smelled an odour and summoned police personnel to the scene.

So far, investigations suggest that Thompson’s death may have been accidental. The elderly man, who reportedly suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, is believed to have wandered from his home into nearby woodlands, later falling to his death.

“We cannot rule out foul play, that is why we’re making another effort tomorrow to go down again to see if we can get the body. When we went down there on Monday night, they saw the body, but the body was in a decomposed state,” said Sergeant C Reid, sub-officer attached to the Maggoty Police Station.

Previous attempts by the personnel from the Santa Cruz Fire Brigade to assist in removing the body from the chasm proved futile. As a last-ditch effort, the police, alongside members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), will continue to work assiduously to put an end to the week-long ordeal.

“Having gone there, our last resort is to ask the army (for assistance) because as the law states, once a body is found, it must come up to find out what is the cause of death. So we are having that challenge. And the challenge is that, to go down a 170ft in a chasm, a cave or a precipice, it is an onerous task,” Reid explained.

View the original article here

73-Y-O FALLS INTO 170 ft CAVE - Body still not recovered

Parchment falls, out of World Champs

Latest News

Monday, August 12, 2013 | 10:09 AM

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Hansle Parchment crumbled at hurdle 9 putting an end to his 2013 World championship campaign as American Jason Richardson (13.34)won the first sprint hurdle  semi-final in Moscow Russia Tuesday morning.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

View the original article here

Parchment falls, out of World Champs