‘Highway robbery’

Transport operators in Jamaica are vehemently opposing planned increases to toll fees on the North-South Highway, with Noel Williams, president of the Kingston Chapter of JUTA Tours, labeling the move 'highway robbery.' The impending rate hikes have sparked significant fear among operators, who believe the increases could cripple their businesses.

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HIGHWAY robbery

Representatives from JUTA Tours, Jamaica Cooperative Automobile & Limousine (JCAL) Tours Limited, and other transport organizations convened for a crucial meeting in New Kingston. Their objective was to engage with officials from the Ministry of Transport and the Toll Authority of Jamaica to voice their urgent concerns. However, Williams expressed deep disappointment, stating that despite invitations, no representatives from either government body attended the meeting. He interpreted this absence as a stark indicator of the disregard shown towards transport operators.

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We are saying to the Government and the Toll Authority, that we cannot any longer absorb this toll increase, because we are of the opinion that this is the most expensive toll anywhere in the world.

"We are saying to the Government and the Toll Authority, that we cannot any longer absorb this toll increase, because we are of the opinion that this is the most expensive toll anywhere in the world," Williams declared. He highlighted that many operators already struggle with current fees for specific vehicle classes and cannot sustain any further upward adjustments. The proposed new rates, set to take effect at the end of the month, include a capped toll of $2,610 each way for Class 1 vehicles, $5,220 one way for Class 2, and a substantial $7,830 for Class 3 vehicles, such as large trucks.

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I think this is highway robbery by the Toll Authority, and the Government sits there completely complacent and they do nothing about it.

Williams urged the government to pause the implementation for a year to allow for thorough stakeholder consultations. He criticized the Toll Authority's actions as predatory and accused the government of complacency. Operators are already facing significant costs, with one coaster bus round trip from Kingston to St. Ann costing $15,000, a figure set to rise to $15,680 under the new structure. Williams warned that these increased costs would inevitably be passed on to passengers, who are already complaining about current fares. He noted that numerous letters to policymakers have gone unanswered, and some Toll Authority representatives have been perceived as disrespectful.

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We will be asked to pay $15,680 when the new rate is introduced. If we are to do that, then we have to keep on passing on these increases to the passengers, who already have been complaining about what we are charging now.