**************************************************** **************************************************** *** *** *** THE PORTMORE WEBSITE NEWSLETTER *** *** *** **************************************************** **************************************************** Newsletter: Number 16 for 2004 - Edition 1 Publication Date: August 2, 2004 Editor: Kennedy Reid Subscribers: 139 (up from 130) Reply to: webmaster@portmore.org Subscribe: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/portmore_newsletter/ Web site: http://www.portmore.org Phone: 876-320-7343 Note: Please read notices at end of newsletter CONTENTS ======== 1. Updates - Highway2000 Meeting 2. Highway2000 - a reasoned argument - Mr. X (alias) 3. The Bridgeview community and Highway200 - SULPH 4. Highway2000 discussion forum - Claude Stanberry 5. Independence City - Bruce Walters 6. Virus ############################################################ 1. Updates - Highway2000 Meeting ############################################################ Hello everyone, This August 1, the Portmore Website is six years old! over the year we received over 11,000 visitors and our Advertisements would have been seen over 25,000 times! Might be we should charge more (smile) Anyway...Thanks to all of you for your support! Many of you have been asking for a report on the recent Highway2000 meeting called by the Portmore Advisory Council (PAC) at the HEART Academy on July 29, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. I will try to give you a taste of the meeting... but before reading on you need to look at the pictures. Go to: http://www.portmore.org/album/album180.html there are interesting pictures of Highway2000 for you to see. Now about the meeting... The meeting was held to a capacity audience of animated residents. People were standing in the overflow areas and standing outside. Noted persons in attendance were the members of the Advisory Council, A few Councillors, Mayor Lee (who arrived later), Deputy Mayor Fagan, Member of Parliament Jackson, members of the Ministers Fraternal, and Mayor-Caretaker Hinds. The meeting started with prayers and introductions, then a report on the toll issue was given by Father Sourez (Chairman). Highway2000 is a major modern toll road that is planned to cross Jamaica. In Portmore, Highway2000 is planned to replace the main exit from Portmore called the Causeway. The residents of Portmore are upset about this and thus a meeting was scheduled by the PAC to hear from them. Of note, it was reported by members of head table that a government official said he was not going to be pressured by a few "loud mouth" residents. Another member reported that the Highway2000 people felt we (the citizens) were OK with the highway's design and toll system since the residents did not come out to meetings they held. The Residents were then given the opportunity to ask questions and later to make suggestions. Most used the microphone to vent their strong opposition to the toll. In general, the residents present were in no mood to pay a toll and certainly not at the possible rate of $65. (Any person with another view would have felt intimidated so to state.) In many cases the views were angrily expressed and defiant... one woman's body shook with annoyance as she called on residents to unite against injustice. Another woman stated that we are being sold out to white people. Two gentlemen expressed their willingness to "die" like our national heroes! One JLP Councilor stated her support and criticized the authorities. On the more reasoned side...Here are some of the ideas banded by residents: * Portmore residents should pay no Toll or refuse the idea of a toll * A concession should be given to Portmore Residents * The "alternative" road is no good and in poor condition. * Portmore should reason with the stake holders. * We should seek legal options. * A protest book should be opened for signatures * A road protest should be organised. * The Causeway should be left alone * What of the livelihood of the Fisher Folk? * The bridge is old and we need a toll road * What about emergencies and additional hidden cost in goods and services * Businesses that passed over from town several times per day would face a serious cost * The meetings of the Highway2000 people were not adequately published. In the end, the PAC formulated a summary of the views of residents that will be communicated. His Worship, Mayor Lee, stated his position on the matter of Highway2000. He loudly proclaimed over the grumblings of some, that Portmore needed Highway2000. He said that it would solve a number of problems and would facilitate development. He further stated that he was in negotiations with the parties. The meeting ended with prayers. Enjoy this newsletter and pass it on!!!! **************************************************** ***AdVT.******************************************** *** *** *** Lees Fith Avenue *** *** *** *** 'Visit us online at' *** *** http://www.leesfifthavenue.com/ *** *** *** *** *** ********************************************ADVT.*** **************************************************** **************************************************** ############################################################ 2. Highway2000 - a reasoned argument - Mr. X (alias) ############################################################ From: Mr. X [alias used on request] Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2004 05:57:10 Kennedy I couldn't make the meeting, hope it was informative and constructive. I think we need to recognize that the type of infrastructure required to facilitate our long outstanding request for easier access and exit to Portmore, requires significant financing, not possible without the toll factor at this time. We can ask for a reduction on the toll for Portmore residents who could pay via prepaid electronic tag. However any discussion or decision must bear in mind the following: Hidden costs all residents now bear by virtue of wear and tear on vehicles and themselves due to the present situation-leaving home extra early, utilizing alternate routes which are longer, not so safe and with poor road conditions. Accidents with damage to vehicles and injury to persons Time lost which to many is valued more than the toll Whether with the overall improvements the alternate free route might be much faster and therefore more feasible alternative than it now is If we are collectively dissatisfied with the outcome I would never say we should be passive, however wouldn't the citizens of Portmore choosing to utilize the alternate route to the toll road in significant numbers consistently after implementation be a much more efficient form of protest to reduce the toll amount (they would then have to reduce price to stimulate demand/use) or are we afraid we do not have sufficient support from the community in this regard to be resolute once implemented. PS. If you intend to post this ask me first and if so I would not want my work email showing. [Contact numbers deleted] **************************************************** Webmasters Comment **************************************************** Dear Mr. X, I tried to call you to get your approval to publish your e-mail but without success. I even called your home. I published anyway becuase I think you make some good points. As one of my best and longest website supports, you should know that your wish is my command... I deleted your name. In general I will not publish contact information unless it is needed by the readers. Suh yuh safe! (Interestingly, I got a very exciting e-mail from a browser to pass on to Mayor Lee. If true it could bring millions of dollars to Portmore, but the authors refused to allow me to publish the matter... so... mi mouth shut!) Anyway, thanks for your reasoned letter on Portmore's leg of Highway2000. I suspect most residents feel as you do. I too would be happy for a solution to our traffic problems and would be more than willing to pay a reasonable toll. HERE IS KENNEDY REID's VIEW: A solution is needed for the traffic problems in Portmore. I know that the government can not afford a long term solution and so a toll road is a welcomed effort. However, in most circumstance, a toll road is an ADDITIONAL road and not a replacement road. The proposed toll road will replace one of our two exit roads from Portmore to Kingston and so the 170,000 of us will be cornered. Our choice is that we either pay a toll or endure a long traffic clogged journey. This solution leaves the Higway2000 operators with too much advantage over the people and may even be unfair. A win-win solution would have been to build a third exit. I am sure that With the level of traffic to and from Portmore when there are only two lanes would have made a third road viable! (just not as quickly profitable). In Old Harbour and May Pen the toll road is a NEW road and it is still profitable! In Portmore, the powers that be should consider leaving the causeway and reducing the lanes of the Highway2000. Also, the toll should be pegged to US50cents I feel that in the long run the new toll road will be welcomed by all. Kennedy ############################################################ 3. The Bridgeview community and Highway200 - SULPH ############################################################ SULPH wrote: Sir it’s good to see that the citizens of Portmore are determined not to pay any toll for the new Highway. My concern is that these meetings are not widely publicized as I listen current affairs/news religiously and I generally only hear about these meetings after the fact. I live in the Bridgeview community, and to tell me that I’ll have to travel the long way around Ferry is ridiculous. Our MP’s are a bunch of fools, how can Fitz Jackson make the point that we’ve been using the alternate route for nine years (I am not too sure it has been operational for that long) he is talking rubbish, most Portmore I would estimate work in Kingston/St. Andrew so that means we all go out the one way in the mornings and come in one way in the evenings, so it is not the same as now like he suggested on RJR’s Beyond the Headlines. I bought my house because of it’s close proximity to the causeway and now to ask me to pay more for toll than my insurance will not work. Sir continue to keep up the fight on behalf of the Portmore Citizens. ******************** Webmasters Comments ******************** SULPH, I can see your point about Bridgeview and understand your anger! I would be too, but please do try to be more respectful of our leaders. I live in Greater Portmore and Mandela is already a favorite route of mine, but for you it's a long route! On the matter of leadership... I just saw the salaries of our leaders and it's poor.... just over a million dollars per year. Not even I would want that salary! That's why I find it funny when a group of citizens once accused me of seeking political office for the money! What kind of leaders do they want? I also saw the recommendation that We need to get rid of the Parliament building. I agree... it's the worst I know of! I mean, which self respecting nation would place such a building on the side of a road! Kennedy ############################################################ 4. Higyway200 discussion forum - Claude Stanberry ############################################################ Date: Tue, 13 Jul 2004 From: "Claude Stanberry" Subject: highway2000 To: webmaster@portmore.org I have a discussion forum addressing the highway 2000 project at the portmore missionary web site. Feel free to use the link below to discuss relevant issues concerning the subject. Those who wish to vote on toll charges have an avenue to do so at this site. http://www.portmoremissionary.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2 Note! We are an independent organization and have No affiliation with the managers or contractors of this project. Our contribution is to provide an avenue for the residents of portmore to exercise civil dialogue. Who knows, the views expressed here may well be read by the appropriate authorities. **************************************************** ***AdVT.******************************************** *** *** *** Lees Fith Avenue *** *** *** *** 'Visit us online at' *** *** http://www.leesfifthavenue.com/ *** *** *** *** *** ********************************************ADVT.*** **************************************************** **************************************************** ############################################################ 5. Independence City - Bruce Walters ############################################################ Subject: Re: Independence City From: RamGolfr57@aol.com Date: Thu, July 8, 2004 5:39 pm To: rhouse@cybervale.com Kennedy, Please pass this along to Andrea Huie who asked for information on Independence City. The Independence City Alumni Association have recently launched a website www.independencecity.org It is a work in process, but it's a start. Also, there is a group called the Independence City Alumni Association. Their 'snail mail' address is : Independence City Alumni Asssociation 7557-124 Murray Hill Road Columbia, MD 21046 443-994-5765 I am a member of Reggae Boyz Supporterz Club, which has sponsored the Independence City Football Club U-17 team since 2001. I can proudly say that Independence City FC U-17 and adult teams BOTH won the Portmore city championship. The adult team won a promotion into the St. Catherine Parish Major League, which starts play in the fall. Last week, the U-17 team opened its title defense with a 2-1 win over Newfields. This was reported by the OBSERVER on Wednesday. For the record, in the U-17 championship, Indy City beat Naggo Head 3 -1; and the adult side beat Hellshire on penalty kicks after drawing twice, 2 - 2 and 1-1. I may also suggest to Kennedy, that he keep in touch with Portmore Football League for all the results and standings. If you can pass my e-mail address along to Andrea, I can send her the appropriate links, and some stories involving Independence City Football Club Sincerely, Bruce Walters Milwaukee, WI RamGolfr57@aol.com ############################################################ 6. Virus ############################################################ Everyone, I try my best, but some how there are spammers using Yahoo Groups to send e-mails and Viruses! I am sure Yahoo is working on this. In the mean time please observe the following rules: 1) I will never send newsletter with attachments for you to open 2) I will never send newsletters with "RE:" in the topic 3) I will place the words "(KR)" in the topic! For example "News from carnival (KR)" Delete any emails that do not conform to these features. [-----------------------THE END OF ENTRIES------------------------] Legal Notices - Please read 1. This newsletter makes NO guarantees of accuracy nor authorship. 2. The contents of this newsletter do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher, and do NOT represent the views of any Political Party or Community Organisation. 3. Commercial publication of this newsletter needs the express consent of the webmaster in writing. 4. Copy Rights are owned by Kennedy Reid General Notes - Please read 1. Please copy this newsletter to as many persons as you may, However, please do not alter the contents. 2. To read our past newsletters go to http://www.portmore.org/newsletters/index.html 3. This newsletter is an open forum so please feel free to send us your contributions. We do NOT edit your letters, but may delete sections that can not be published. Deleted sections will be noted. Private e-mail addresses are deleted from letters and, if you ask, we will delete your name also! The Webmaster may comment on your contribution, but reserves the last word for you. Write to webmaster@portmore.org or rhouse@cybervale.com 4. Comments made in this newsletter should be taken in a light manner as the style of this newsletter attempts to be humourous. "Why be ordinary?" - KR [--------------------------THE END--------------------------------]