Cash to cross

Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter

The two-minute trip across the Hope River cost as much as $1,000 yesterday as persons trapped by the raging river paid dearly to cross in the vicinity of the Harbour View ford.

With work continuing to restore the ford, 'tour guides' placed a rope across the river and offered to move persons from one bank to the next.

"Two bills and me hold you hand go cross," said one young man as he requested $200 to get a Gleaner team from the Harbour View side of the river to the Bull Bay side.

"Thousand dollars and you pants won't get wet 'cause me will carry you on me back," added the young man who later identified himself as George.

He said he offered this service after the bridge collapsed in Tropical Storm Gustav in 2008 and was prepared to continue carrying people across the river until the ford was repaired.

Several persons were quick to fork out the money although some insisted they would pay no more than $100, which was quickly accepted by the enterprising young men.

"I had to pay because I needed to come across to buy grocery and to get to Western Union," one young woman said.

"Most of the shops there (Bull Bay, St Andrew) are out of food, so I had to get over here," the woman added.

"Me pay $200 and then me hold on the rope and the man carry me bag and me come cross," another woman said.

"Me cool but them need to hurry up and fix the bridge. Them should have a plan B because this is the hurricane season," added the woman.

One man who was visiting Jamaica on holiday from the United States pulled off his brand-name sneakers, as he prepared to pay the men to take him and his two bags across the river.

"This is not a problem. I'm just happy to be home," said the man who had relatives waiting on the other side of the river to take him to St Thomas.

Workmen on the ford yesterday were positive that, weather permitting, it would be open to the public by this morning.

Workmen from NWA try to repair the broken Harbour View ford yesterday.