Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter 
Vehicles drive eastward towards Kingston along the Portmore, St. Catherine leg of the Highway 2000 toll road yesterday. - Norman Grindley/ Deputy Chief Photographer
THE EXISTING tension between Government and the people of Portmore has been turned up a notch with the Portmore Citizens' Advisory Council (PCAC) announcing a nine-day boycott of the toll road when it opens on July 13.
The announcement came in reaction to Robert Pickersgill, Minister of Housing, Water, Transport, and Works, who yesterday revealed the Portmore toll rates during a press briefing at his ministry's Maxfield Avenue, St. Andrew, offices yesterday.
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS
Minister Pickersgill said that, while special arrangements have been made for the residents of Portmore, a non-frequent user would have to fork out $60.
The Transport Minister also disclosed that it cost US$100 million (J$6.5 billion) to construct the Portmore leg of the Highway 2000 project. He said the Portmore section would attract an average interest cost of US$12 million per year or J$780 million.
"This means that, in order to pay the interest alone, we need $780 million or $2.1 million per day," he argued.
Mr. Pickersgill said under the special mechanism, which was designed specifically for Portmore residents, but can be enjoyed by any frequent user, motorists must use the electronic tag or T-Tag to enjoy the discounts.
"Class One motorists doing a minimum of 10 passages per week will pay $500, or $50 per passage," he outlined.
Minister Pickersgill further said, for those who will be using the road more frequently, every additional passage after the 10th within the week, which spans from midnight Friday to midnight Friday, would be at a further 20 per cent decrease or $40 per passage.
However, motorists who make only nine trips during the prescribed week, with or without the T-Tag, would have to pay $60 per passage.
Despite the ultimatum given to the Government by Portmore residents, who had threatened a boycott if the toll exceeded $30, the Transport Minister said he was anticipating that the toll rates would "find favour" in their eyes.
However, Yvonne McCormack, chairperson for the PCAC, which is an umbrella body that represents a variety of Portmore-based organisations, told The Gleaner the minister would have no such luck.
Ms. McCormack said the boycott would be a reality come July 13 when the toll road is slated to open.
"We will be asking for at least a nine-day boycotting of the toll plaza. Then the message would have been sent and we would be available for further dialogue," she insisted.
Ms. McCormack revealed that, after the initial nine-day resistance, the Government would be given seven days in which to respond before the boycott is resumed.
Ms McCormack said the toll rate was a hard pill to swallow. "I have taken a full hour to absorb the information and it still not going down. I am at my wits end."
She said a meeting was scheduled for tomorrow evening to clarify issues regarding the rates, as they were not easy to comprehend.
Toll rates
Class 1 (motor cars)
Nominal $60
10 passages $50
Each extra passage $40
Class 2 (SUVs)
Nominal $100
10 passages $90
Each extra passage $80
Class 3 (buses and trucks)
Nominal $200
10 passages $180
Each extra passage $160
