Opposition Spokesperson on Housing, Infrastructure and Transport, Robert Pickersgill,  has blasted the Government on reneging on its promise to reduce the toll rate on the Portmore leg of Highway 2000 from the then $ 60 per trip for cars to $ 30 which it  gave in its role as Opposition, in the run up to the General Elections of September last year.

Making his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in Gordon House on Tuesday, Mr. Pickersgill said that he noted where the Government has implemented increases in toll rates from 16 per cent to 66 per cent beginning in July.

He however took the opportunity to remind the House and the Nation that leading up to the general elections last year, the then opposition "promised faithfully to roll back the toll rate on the Portmore Causeway to $ 30!"

Mr. Pickersgill stated that the excuse being used by the Government for not keeping its promise and in fact increasing the toll rates, that they were unaware of the poor financial state of NROCC, was not valid since the financial position was known by the then Opposition before their promise to roll back the toll rate on the Portmore leg of Highway 2000.

He stated that the then Opposition Spokesman on Finance, Mr. Audley Shaw had commented on NROCC in his presentation to the Budget Debate in 2007 citing the state-owned company as "the new debt queen".

            Mr. Pickersgill also cautioned the Government for renegotiating for annual instead of semi-annual adjustments to the toll rates stating that "given the volatility in the world economy in terms of price movements, it is considered more prudent to adjust prices sooner rather than later since the latter approach will result in large cumulative increases.

He further stated that in a number of jurisdictions, increases in toll rates are allowed every two to as long as every five years but that this method results in significant increases at the points of adjustment and additionally, requires the state to compensate the Concessionaire for any significant losses in real revenue occasioned by any changes occurring over the    period.

            The most common model, he noted is "the one used in the Highway 2000 project, which provides for more regular increases -   semi-annually - which can be easier for the consumers to incorporate in their spending patterns than larger, less frequent increases".

Contact:         Robert Pickersgill
Spokesperson on Housing, Infrastructure and Transport
Telephone: (876) 978-1337
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