THE EDITOR, Sir:
I WATCHED the news broadcast of the very likeable and polished Minister Burchell Whiteman explaining why, although an option, the Government was 'unlikely' to take steps to re-take the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) from Mirant.
Minister Whiteman while recognising that there is a 'little turmoil' with the JPS, says that such action may send the wrong message. I daresay that, were the Minister to analyse many of the complaints being made against the Mirant-owned JPS, he would use a far harsher word than
simply 'turmoil'.
Is it just 'turmoil' when homeowners travel for six weeks
leaving their residence locked up tight, only to receive a JPS bill for the period in question showing an increase in consumption of approximately 50 per cent over the period, based on an actual reading?
Is it 'turmoil' when a married couple with one small child, having changed nothing in their lifestyle aside from perhaps heeding the JPS' call to conserve electricity, receives an invoice based on an actual reading showing an increase in consumption of over 130 per cent based on an actual reading? What about the businessman who receives an invoice showing a sharp hike in the consumption pattern for his warehouse which has remained locked up and uninhabited for over one year? Is that again simply 'turmoil' minister?
The list of such instances is far too long to even recall or tabulate, and relates only to issues based on consumption patterns not the 'fuel related adjustment' cliché which is oftentimes on the tip of the tongue of all JPS employees. What about their 'excuse' that consumption patterns will increase in the summer months due to higher temperatures? While no one would dispute this, why are there such massive increases in consumption when comparing same to patterns last year at the same time, or did we experience a four-month blizzard in 2004 between June-September which I am not aware of?
WRONG MESSAGE
While I fully respect and agree with the minister's concern over the message that a move to re-take the JPS from Mirant would send to all overseas investors, I urge him and the Government to also see the flip side in that a clear message would also be sent to the very same investors that, while they are welcome here, NO ONE will be allowed to 'rip off' Jamaicans without the intervention of the Jamaican Government. It is all well and good for a Government to protect the rights of overseas investors as any country trying to maintain stability would do, but what about protecting the rights of the people whom you were elected to serve?!
I am, etc.,
JOHN P. AZAR
c/o 1 Caledonia Avenue
Kingston 5
