The Editor, Sir:

A few days ago Minister Paulwell tabled a bill in Parliament dealing with e-commerce. In the process, he suggested that e-commerce might be the solution to the vexed practice by some bill collection agencies imposing additional charges on the customers of utility companies.

One would have thought that since the minister had admitted awareness of the issue and cared to mention it in Parliament, he would have brought clarity to the matter. Instead, he applauded the government for removing custom duties and other taxes on computers and reiterated an old promise to make computers readily accessible to every Jamaican.

The minister seems not to be aware that to most Jamaican consumers, the cost of the infrastructure to facilitate e-commerce is prohibitive. Computer prices range anywhere from $50,000 upwards. Monthly fees for providers is near $1,000, plus GCT.

The Office of Utility Regulation (OUR), the minister should be aware, had constantly evaded questions on the legality of appointed bill collection agencies of the utility companies imposing additional charges on customers of the latter. Instead, the OUR would have us believe that because licences had been issued to the utility companies before the advent of bill collection agencies, these agencies were beyond the reach of the regulatory authority.

Another excuse emanating from the OUR is that the agents are private entities. This is a very vague explanation. Neither e-commerce nor the implication that consumers should boycott the collection agencies imposing the additional charges can be advanced as an adequate solution. The minister must recognise the existence of a legal question. The question is whether the appointed bill collection agents have any legal ground for imposing additional cost on the customers of their principals. The minister needs to address Parliament and the country clearly and adequately on the matter.

I am, etc.,

L. RUSSELL

Ensom City

St. Catherine