Dear Editor,

For decades Jamaica has been trying to dig itself out of the rut of debt and poverty. A few years ago the people of St Thomas were enjoying increased employment through the mining industry, but speaking on behalf of many of my neighbours, colleagues and co-workers, things have taken a turn for the worse.

Now that the Government has set up the Harbour View Weigh Scale Station to check the weight of trucks transporting materials it has put a damper on the mining industry in St Thomas.

I support the grounds upon which the weight restrictions have been set, and understand the purpose being to prevent damage to the roadways caused by heavy-laden trucks. However, it is not fair that such restrictions have only been implemented in St Thomas, and miners throughout the rest of the island can freely transport their aggregates.

The weight restrictions have significantly decreased the amount of sand, stone and crushed limestone transported out of the parish per truck and, as such, business is moving away from my parish to other areas.

Due to this decrease in business, many of the residents who have invested in trucks and quarries are suffering from reduced income, and unemployment in the parish is on the rise.

It brings me pain to see hard work and investments slip away with the value of the Jamaican dollar as it is. Business for truck and quarry owners in St Thomas has become a real struggle and, personally speaking, my source of income is hanging on by a thread. It is time the Government level the playing field and promote fair trade in the mining industry and set up these weighing stations all across Jamaica or dismantle the one in my parish.

Russell TomlinsonYallahs,

St Thomas