Devon Evans, Gleaner Writer
OCHO RIOS, St. Ann:
GOVERNMENT TRAVELLING officers who used the toll roads while carrying out work assignments will have to do so at their own cost.
This directive came from the Ministry of Finance in a letter to the St. Ann Parish Council which was read at Thursday's monthly general meeting of the council by Secretary Manager, Dorothy Delgado.
Since the opening of the new toll highway in St. Catherine, several government travelling officers have been submitting claims to their various heads of departments for refund of toll charges for using the new highway, as part of their regular travel claims.
But the ministry's letter has made it clear that there will be no refunds.
According to the letter, it will not be possible for the ministry to reimburse claims that have been submitted due to financial constraints. The ministry is advising government travelling officers to use non-toll roads when going about their business.
At the meeting some councillors felt, however, that the officers will end up paying more in petrol cost if they are to travel on the longer routes.
