A team will be formed to examine concerns raised by Portmore residents seeking a reduction in toll charges for the Portmore leg of Highway 2000, according to a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) .

This move comes after a delegation from the Portmore/Hellshire community yesterday handed Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller a 4,200 signature petition, seeking her intervention in addressing what the group described as the “unjust situation facing us as a result of the conversion of the Portmore Causeway to a toll road”.

The residents are seeking a reduction of the toll charge to $30 for class one vehicles and $70 for class two vehicles.

The current charges are $60 and $100 respectively.

The 8-point petition is also seeking a 24-month moratorium on any increase in the toll rate.

“Development Minister Donald Buchanan has been charged with the responsibility of chairing a team comprising representatives of the Ministry of Housing, Transport, Water and Works, the National Works Agency, Trans Jamaica Highway and National Road Operating and Constructing Company Ltd to meet with a group from the Portmore Community to discuss the petition and put forward their recommendation for consideration by Cabinet,” the statement from the OPM said.

“Simpson Miller praised the residents for the responsible manner in which they have dealt with their concerns, noting the dialogue and understanding was welcomed,” the statement said.

Representing the Portmore citizens at the meeting were Yvonne McCormac of the Portmore Citizens Advisory Council, Byron Buckley of the All Hellshire Leadership Council, Howard Hamilton of the Greater Portmore Joint Citizens Association and Dolkeith Harriott.