The EDITOR, Sir:RELATIVE TO the new effort of the NWC to sell properties to recover outstanding water bills, I must ask who is going to be responsible for the unfortunate home owner and family who, through no fault of their own, end up with the new proposed fine of 1/2 million dollars, and no place to live.
How can this system be fair? I acknowledge that there are those persons presently abusing the system, but this use of the power of "eminent domain" is like using a tank to kill a flea.
The problem of collections for services delivered is directly related to the economic situation at hand. If the people had the financial wherewithal to pay for what they get, I believe the majority of users would pay. As we speak, communities in Bull Bay are without water, and have to be using scarce financial resources to buy bottled water to drink and physical energy to carry water to use for household activities. We know that at the end of the day the water bill will not reflect a credit for the lack of service or quality of the water being delivered by the state agency NWC. The same is true of the JPS. One cannot budget with the uncertainty of the monthly adjustments to the rates and therefore have to make very hard choices.
I suggest that the government revisit the issue of selling properties to recover utility bills.
I am etc.
HUGH M. DUNBAR
hmdenergy@erols.,com
West New York, New Jersey
Via Go-Jamaica
