ST CATHERINE, Jamaica – Member of Parliament for St Catherine South Eastern, Robert Miller, has described the contract governing the toll that is paid by residents of Portmore as “inconsiderate and erroneous”.

Miller is calling for the contract that came into being under a previous People’s National Party Government to be renegotiated.

He made the call during his recent contribution to the State of the Constituency Debate in the House of Representatives. Miller shared that he has written to the Minister of Transport and Mining, Audley Shaw, with recommendations regarding the annual increase in toll rates that residents of Portmore have lamented that they are forced to pay.

Based on the agreement with TransJamaican Highway Limited East-West, the toll operator is granted a rate increase each year that is in line with inflation. The latest increase took effect on July 2. Portmore residents have long complained that the toll paid for a relatively short commute from the municipality to downtown Kingston via Marcus Garvey Drive is unfair.

Miller said he has recommended in his letter to the transport minister that the contract with the toll operator be renegotiated.

“We, on this [the Jamaica Labour Party] side, believe the contract is inconsiderate and erroneous to the people of the constituency, and citizens of Portmore in particular,” Miller stated.

“I have been in dialogue with the Minister and we hope that this vexed issue will be resolved sooner rather than later. We use this opportunity to encourage the toll operators to sit around the table as we come up with solutions in which everyone benefits,” Miller added.

But, while he is hoping for an outcome that will be of benefit to his constituents, Miller acknowledged that the government’s hands are tied “in regards to the yearly increase of the toll cost”.