THE Judicial Committee of the United Kingdom-based Privy Council yesterday reserved judgement in the case brought against the government by a group of Portmore residents opposed to the imposition of a toll to use the Portmore leg of Highway 2000.

The suit, brought by five residents of the municipality – Dr Andrew Wheatley (Jamaica Labour Party councillor, Naggo Head Division); Councillor Natalie Campbell-Rodrigues (JLP, Westchester Division); Councillor Keith Blake (JLP, Independence City Division); Valrene Bennett; and Anton Young – was heard in London yesterday by a panel of five law lords.

Attorney Oswald James, who is representing the Portmore residents, told the Observer after the hearing that he was optimistic that the judgment would be delivered “shortly”.

The residents had taken the government to court after the administration, in July 2006, went ahead and gave permission for the conversion of the old causeway linking the capital city of Kingston to the municipality of Portmore, into a six-lane toll expressway.

They contended that being required to pay to use the causeway, the shortest route to their homes, was a breach of their constitutional right.

In March, the Court of Appeal granted final leave to the residents to take the issue to the Privy Council, Jamaica’s final court of appeal.