MONTEGO BAY, St James – Frustrated at the Government’s failure to dualise the congested Bogue highway in this resort city, a group of Montego Bay business owners, headed by developer Fredrik Moe, has signalled an intention to provide funding for the $60-million project, if given a tax break.

“We are confident that if we receive sanction by the Ministry of Finance for a tax credit for any funds that we commit to the dualisation of the road from Pye River cemetery to Gordon’s Crossing, we could raise at least half of the money right now,” Moe told the Observer shortly after a presentation to private sector interests at the Event Place in Montego Bay last Wednesday.

Moe, who had highlighted the need to dualise the 1.7-mile roadway, told the meeting that informal discussions on the matter have already been held with representatives from the ministries of finance and transport and works, adding that the idea has been “warmly received”.

“The idea is workable, but we want consensus,” he told the gathering, pointing out that the group intends to seek future dialogue with the relevant ministries.

The traffic congestion in the Bogue area has been a cause for concern for quite some time.

Despite numerous calls for several state agencies over the past two years from a number of bodies, including the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) and the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, nothing tangible has been done to ease the massive bottleneck that has developed along the roadway.

At the beginning of the 2006/2007 winter tourist season, Pauline Reid, chamber president, chided the transport and works ministry for the undue delays in travelling along the congested Bogue road.

“On any given day, it takes close to two hours to get from Bogue into the heart of the city,” Reid said at the time. “Repeated complaints by the chamber, and a letter to minister of tourism (Aloun Assamba) and works (minister) Robert Pickersgill have guaranteed no response.”

Last week, Reid reiterated her call when the problem worsened due to the inclement weather.

But the Ministry of Transport, while acknowledging the problem, has maintained that it is unable to undertake the project due to a lack of funding.

Moe stressed last Wednesday that the traffic congestion in the Bogue area must be addressed urgently, as he urged the business community to support the proposal.

“The congestion has resulted in flights being delayed; late arrival at schools; loss of revenues at tourist attractions., so we need to address it now,” he argued.

Noting that his proposal is not novel to the island, Moe, who developed the multimillion dollar Fairview Shopping Centre in Montego Bay, said that a similar arrangement exists along a section of the Northern Coastal Highway in the vicinity of Rose Hall, St James.

Meanwhile, the proposal appeared to have received the support from the influential Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The chamber’s vice-president, John Byles, who was in attendance at the meeting, said the proposal is something the chamber is willing to explore.

“I feel that Government should deal with infrastructure, but the urgency of this work needs some form of collaborative solution between the private sector and Government,” said Byles, who operates Chukka Blue, a tourist attraction in Hanover.

Ian Reid, secretary/manager at the St James Parish Council, has given the proposal his blessings.

“It is something that is tried all over the world in developed countries where you have private/public relationships,” said Reid. “So if you have proper agreements and proper understanding it could work.”