The management of MegaMart Wholesale Club disclosed yesterday that it had suspended an employee, following initial investigation into the discovery by the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) of the "artificial interruption of electricity" supply to MegaMart's stores in Kingston and Portmore.

On December 4, the JPS disconnected electricity supply at both stores, following the discovery of a device on the system which interrupted the recording of the consumption of electricity.

In a statement to the media yesterday, MegaMart's principal, Gassan Azan, said internal investigation "has so far revealed that unknown to the management of the company, an employee responsible for the maintenance of both properties, in a bid to save energy, collaborated with engineers at the time visiting the island some time last year, to place the devices on the system".

Employee suspended

Azan said the employee has been suspended pending a more detailed investigation, while MegaMart continues to investigate "to ascertain whether the visiting engineers worked in collusion with senior technicians at the JPS".

He said it was regrettable that this situation should have occurred after collaboration between MegaMart and JPS to ensure top quality and reliability of power to all MegaMart stores. Such efforts, he said, included the full contact and involvement of the Office of Utilities Regulation, along with independent overseas experts who have assessed the situation in keeping with the specialised needs of a superstore the nature and size of MegaMart. Azan said in discussions with the JPS, MegaMart made it clear that the devices discovered on its premises were unauthorised and not sanctioned by the management of the company.

"It should be noted that a report by the JPS, dated September 6, 2007, following an inspection of MegaMart's electrical room and associated facilities, determined that the system was in good condition and complied with the requirement of Jamaican standard - JS21," said Azan.