MONDAY MORNING SAW the first day of a planned boycott of the new toll road, by Portmore residents, who are adamant that the proposed $60 fare is too much. From as early as 5:00 a.m., a massive traffic build-up was observed from Portmore leading unto Mandela Highway, indicating that most residents had supported the boycott.
It was an admirable sight to see Portmore residents standing in unity to endure heavy traffic in support of the boycott (as reported on yesterday's cover), but it seems that their move has inadvertently provided the toll operators with possibly more customers than if they had not boycotted at all. You see, as residents of Portmore flocked the Mandela Highway, they effectively created a traffic impasse that forced not only Spanish Town residents, but commuters from Clarendon, Mandeville, and other rural areas to use the Portmore toll road.
In effect, this eliminates the financial pressure intended upon TransJamaican Highway Limited, as the supply of these traditional Mandela Highway commuters, as well as Portmore residents who have 'betrayed' the cause, would give them more than enough customers to meet their intended projections for the day.
In sticking to the boycott, Portmore residents have committed themselves to countless mornings of daunting traffic, but they must also realise that they are not the only ones that use Mandela Highway.
For the move to truly be effective, Portmore alone cannot boycott the toll road. They need to gain the support of not only Spanish Town, but the entire south coast of the island that uses Mandela Highway. If Portmore doesn't get these other commuters on their side when their boycott bombards the Mandela Highway with traffic, others will continue to detour unto the toll road, and render the boycott useless.
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