THE EDITOR, Sir:ON THE issue of the increased fees applied for the use of the extension of Highway 2000, I noted with interest some of the comments made in your editorial dated Wednesday, December 15, 2004. While I agree with some of your comments in principle, I tend to disagree on some of these sentiments.
It is true that motorists can save a lot of time and in some ways money, on their vehicles by using the new highway. However, consider the following: after all my years of driving, I have come to the conclusion that even on bad roads, if you drive your vehicle carefully, your vehicle will last a long time. Before Highway 2000, I got well over two years of quality service from my tyres, commuting on an average six days a week from May Pen and back, plus the normal round-town trips in the Corporate Area and in my hometown.
$9,840 PER ANNUM
Now Mr. Editor and readers, check this out: at $320 per day, it is going to cost me a whopping $9,840 per annum to drive on this turf. Sounds as if I am just being extravagant? Check it for yourselves. For six days it's $1,920, multiplied by 52 weeks. Add that to an average $3,000 a week for petrol and you are talking about more than half of the salary of the average motorist who travels from May Pen and beyond. You see sir, roughly between 70 and 78 per cent of us are civil servants who own a car, not because we are rich, not because of style, not because we want to, not because we can afford to, but because of convenience.
I for one cannot see myself affording approximately $100,000 per annum, paying toll, when there are so many different areas in which it could be well spent. You said in your article, and I quote, "There is no doubt that drivers will be better off economically by saving on gas, the cost of tyres and general repairs to their vehicles".
12-YEAR-OLD CAR
I know that you meant us well, but I must point out to you that I have never spent in one year, the amount it would cost me for toll, to maintain my vehicle, which I must proudly state is a 12-year-old car in fairly good condition. Therefore,
to cut a long story short, there
is nothing for us to save or gain monetarily. The only thing that we'll save is a little time.
I have nothing against the highway. What I have a problem with is the exorbitant fees being charged. The government has indeed pulled a fast one on us. I agree that a highway of this magnitude does not come cheaply, but when it is fully completed, what will it cost the motoring public to go to Negril? Maybe it will be cheaper if I take a plane!
I am, etc.,
URIEL WILLIAMS
williu2000@yahoo.com
Bushy Park Gardens
May Pen, Clarendon
Via Go-Jamaica
