NOT only is the People’s National Party (PNP) facing a possible two-month boycott of the toll road, but the party could also lose precious votes if some Portmore residents stand firm on their promise to ‘vote them out’ if immediate action is not taken to roll back the toll charges to $30.

The toll charge has been set at $60, but when the residents met yesterday at the Lions Civic Centre in Portmore, they vowed to hurt the government in the pocket as well as cripple its chances at the polls.

In a show of solidarity, the residents cheered in agreement as speaker after speaker called for a total boycott of the road. During the meeting they chanted, “vote them out”, before holding hands and singing the song, We Shall Overcome.

“They need to remember that they have political power but we have economical power and people power, and so the time of talking is over,” said an adamant Howard Hamiliton, president of the Portmore Pines Citizens’ Association.

“We told them $30, they have made their move, so now is the time to make our move,” Hamilton said.

Meanwhile, second vice-president of the Portmore Pines Citizens’ Association called on the residents to withhold their votes from a government who would have such scant regard for their plight.

“Sister P (Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller) is saying she must win the election but we have another option where we can vote them out,” she said.

This suggestion was met by cheers and further applause as some residents continued to chant “vote them out”.

“For the next two months when our children are out of school let us all go to Mandela [Highway],” she said.

Another resident pointed out that none of their members of parliament were present at the meeting which, he said, signified their support of the $60 toll charge.

“They not being here this evening prove that we have no representation in Portmore and if they are not representing us we must stop supporting them as of this evening,” he said, again to shouts of “vote them out”.

Nearly all of the more than 250 residents in attendance at yesterday’s public forum questioned the reason for having to pay for all 10 rides upfront through the use of a tag before they are given a discount.

Keith Blake, councillor for the Independence City division, was the first to call for an outright boycott of the toll, a suggestion which received thunderous applause from those in attendance.

Heather Wallen-Bryan, president of the Greater Portmore Joint Committee, the umbrella for all the citizen’s associations told the meeting that a number of flyers, were being printed which would be distributed throughout Portmore, encouraging motorist to boycott the roadway. She encouraged motorists to display the flyers which read … “I am boycotting the toll road” in their windshield in support of the action.

She also pointed out that a decision has been taken that no one will be using the tags, thus preventing the toll operators from receiving monies upfront.

“Portmore is of great significance to the Jamaican economy and if we don’t use the toll then they won’t be getting that $2.1 million that they need to, per day,” she said, again to much applause.

Jamaica Labour Party Senator Arthur Williams, who was in attendance at the meeting, told the group that his party would support any legal action taken by the residents, even as he too called for a boycott of the roadway.

Spanish Town Mayor Andrew Wheatley (councillor for the Naggo Head Division) who is also a Portmore resident gave his full support of a boycott and suggested that they meet with the police to seek their assistance with the traffic flow along Mandela, once the boycott is on. “We might have a bit of teething pain in the first week but this must be done,” he said.

Residents are being encouraged to check with the website geocities.com/portmore_tollinfo for daily updates.