Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

Thieves, over the last 15 months, have disconnected and stolen more than $50 million worth of cable belonging to communication giant Cable and Wireless Jamaica. The theft has been disrupting telephone services in sections of the Corporate Area, St. Ann, St. Mary, Portland, Manchester and St. Catherine.

"The last fiscal year, we had to replace over $41 million worth of cable and since April, we have lost another $10 million," Howard Mollison, vice-president of customer support, disclosed to The Sunday Gleaner.

Special security features

While the matter has been reported to the police, Cable and Wireless has installed special security features.

For example, in the event that a cable is cut, an alarm will be set off either at the nearest police station or at the office of a private security company. The police have confirmed reports of the theft and said the culprits have been selling the cable to scrap yards.

Apart from the security measures, Cable and Wireless is offering a reward to person(s) with information that leads to an arrest or conviction. They can call 922-4357.

It is alleged that the persons involved in the theft usually pose as workmen with pickups. These vehicles are used to transport the cable. Responding to questions about how members of the public would be able to identify the legitimate Cable and Wireless workmen, Mollison said that most times, the workmen's vehicles are branded with the company's logo.