STAR investigations have revealed that persons employed to prevent traffic from entering the closed Bog Walk gorge in St Catherine have been collecting fees and granting motorists access to the road.

Despite caution signs such as 'Road Closed', 'Danger Ahead' and 'Do Not Enter', motorists are being allowed access to the gorge by flagmen for a fee. A barrier set to keep out the motorists is being lifted by these persons after payments are made.

"Just gi we a thing man, we naw pressure you, anything you feel fi gi we," a flagwoman said to THE STAR team who went to the location in an unmarked vehicle seeking access to the roadway.

We were granted access after agreeing to pay $300 and successfully satisfying a flagman and a flagwoman who approached the vehicle under scrutiny.

"Unno a police or soldier? Mi seh if unno a police or soldier?", was the question posed to THE STAR team.

Moments later, a taxi was allowed to pass undisturbed after the driver greeted the flag crew with whom he seemed to be familiar.

After the monetary exchange, THE STAR team followed the taxi as we were given 'the green light' to proceed.

During our journey several taxi cabs were also observed using the gorge which has been closed to the public since July 4 to facilitate a pipe-laying project. It is expected to be officially opened tomorrow.

Since its closure, vehicles have been forced to use the much longer alternate routes either through the communities of Barry or Sligoville.

pay 'the tax'

In an effort to bypass these longer routes the motorists for sometime now, despite the danger, were said to have preferred to pay 'the tax' to use the gorge.

When contacted last night, the Bog Walk police told THE STAR, "We have heard rumours but there is no proof, and no motorist has reported anything like that."

Meanwhile, Stephen Shaw, communications manager for The National Works Agency, said "I'm not aware of it but the gorge is under the control of the National Water Commission (NWC), so any breach would be for the NWC to deal with."

When THE STAR asked Shaw if the road is ready for any vehicular traffic or normal traffic, he said "I don't know and I wouldn't know that until tomorrow (today)."

Corporate Public Relations Manager at the NWC ,Charles Buchanan, when contacted also said that he wasn't aware of the practice. He, however, said that; "I would imagine that persons using it would be endangering themselves as work is still being done on it until Thursday."