MULLINGS
OPPOSITION SPOKESMAN on energy, Clive Mullings, has called for the establishment of a Parliamentary committee to examine petroleum pricing and alternative energy sources in light of ever increasing fuel costs.
Mr. Mullings tabled a resolution in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, proposing the appointment of a joint select committee to examine the issues.
The resolution is to be moved at the next sitting of the House.
It states: "Whereas the country faces an energy crisis and petroleum prices have risen to unprecedented levels;
"And whereas these high petroleum prices have a debilitating effect on the economy and the Jamaican consumer, and militate against the mandate of the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica to pass the least costs to the consumer;
"And whereas the pricing mechanism of petroleum products is in need of review to see if the least costs are in fact being passed to the Jamaican consumer, as it is imperative that the pricing mechanism reflects actual inputs and not historical patterns or indirect taxation;
"And whereas there is need for an emergency policy to plan for and implement a programme of development for alternative sources of energy;
"Be it resolved that this Honourable House appoint a joint select committee to examine the issue of petroleum pricing and alternative sources of energy".
SECOND CALL FROM MULLINGS
It is the second time since September that Mr. Mullings has tabled a resolution calling for the establishment of a joint select committee to examine an issue related to his portfolio.
Just last month, the Opposition spokesman on energy called for the establishment of a select committee of Parliament to investigate the operations at the embattled Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS).
Several recent increases in electricity rates in large part spurred an islandwide Jamaica Labour Party-led demonstration against the spiralling cost of living and the Government's seeming inability to adequately bring it under control.
