THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE FACT of the matter is that, as a nation, we have become far too dependent upon the JPS to provide us with our energy requirements.
The Government should have long ago opened the utilities market to other players. Where competition exists, customers have choice.
Whenever and wherever monopolies exist in democratic nations throughout the world, the citizens are basically held ransom to the whims and fancies of these types of entities.
Freedom without suitable choices is freedom denied. Unless we can afford to equip our homes with multi-million dollar solar energy devices or super generators, the only real alternative we have is to return to the lantern and candles that were employed, out of necessity, by our ancestors.
It seems to me that while the JPS needs to recoup its substantial losses following Hurricane Ivan, it needs to do so in a customer-friendly fashion.
Instead of seeking to raise its rates by the huge percentages, the JPS should implement no more than a 10 per cent increase on rates, over a 20 to 30-year period. Show some goodwill. JPS.
I am, etc.,
PATRICK A. GALLIMORE
pagalley@hotmail.com
Kingston
Via Go-Jamaica
