Linden commercial business vehicles to pay biennial cost

Return of Kara Kara toll booth

Vehicles carrying commercial goods attached to businesses registered in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) may have to pay an agreed biennial cost to the municipality of the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) when the Kara Kara toll booth at Mackenzie becomes operational again. This was discussed during deliberations at an extraordinary meeting of the Council which was recently held.

While a cost has not yet been set, a majority of Councillors at the meeting voted in favour of the decision to have the necessary vehicles, such as those carrying lumber, pay twice a year at a reduced cost.

Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland indicated that a cost is expected to be arrived at following consultations with the Linden Chamber of Industry Commerce and Development (LCICD) and businesses within the community. Some categories of vehicles subjected to toll are timber trucks, haulers with machinery, trailers with logs and vehicles with goods for sale, among others.

Another aspect which was discussed by the Council recently was the penalties for assaulting a toll collector which carries a $10,000 fine or an alternative of three months in prison.

The Kara Kara toll booth had been the centre of controversy in the past due to the Council’s by-laws which were govern it, not being in force. A move to have it up and running again by the previous Council, after years, resulted in its abrupt closure by the previous Government in 2013. However, recently, the present Council succeeded in having the toll booth gazetted, with a claims and objections period being put in place for citizens.

Just last week, the Mayor sought to clear up some misconceptions being peddled around the community, where some residents were reportedly of the belief that all vehicles traversing the route would be subjected to pay tolls. He noted that businesses which are coming from out of town would be subjected to the toll, while stating that it creates for a level playing field. Holland said however that there’s no cost for private vehicles and taxis.

He added that there has been some changes, however, as it relates to costs as he outlined that the previous costs were age old. This, he said, had been discussed during a meeting with the LCICD and was agreed to by the parties involved.