Dear Editor,
I think it is an unfair criticism being levelled against Minister Paulwell with regards to his proposal to allow persons who steal electricity to pay a flat rate for a period of time and then bring them up to standard.
Yes, I admit it is not the best proposal, and those of us who have to pay our electricity monthly have all right to react strongly against such proposal. But, then again, we have to think about a number of things.
1. Those who pay for electricity have to foot the cost for those who don't until we do something.
2. When those who steal electricity start paying a flat rate, there is less pressure on our pockets.
3. To pay a flat rate might be seen as a signal of entitlement, but I say it is a humanitarian approach to solving the issues plaguing us.
4. Those of us who are in the middle class of society sometimes seemingly forget how harsh those in the lower strata of society have to live under these tough economic conditions.
Jamaica Public Service's CEO Kelly Tomblin has said that other measures to bring in those who steal electricity to the table of paying for electricity have been exhausted. She further said that there is only one remaining measure, the most draconian of all, and that is to shut off electricity to troubled communities. We certainly cannot afford to move in this direction.
So, while Energy World International has been granted a licence to add more energy to the national power grid to bring down the cost of electricity, let's remember that, as a society, we have a humanitarian approach to consider, especially towards the most vulnerable in our society.
Jevon Minto
jminto10@stu.ncu.edu.jm
Paulwell has no more options
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I think it is an unfair criticism being levelled against Minister Paulwell with regards to his proposal to allow persons who steal electricity to pay a flat rate for a period of time and then bring them up to standard.
Yes, I admit it is not the best proposal, and those of us who have to pay our electricity monthly have all right to react strongly against such proposal. But, then again, we have to think about a number of things.
1. Those who pay for electricity have to foot the cost for those who don't until we do something.
2. When those who steal electricity start paying a flat rate, there is less pressure on our pockets.
3. To pay a flat rate might be seen as a signal of entitlement, but I say it is a humanitarian approach to solving the issues plaguing us.
4. Those of us who are in the middle class of society sometimes seemingly forget how harsh those in the lower strata of society have to live under these tough economic conditions.
Jamaica Public Service's CEO Kelly Tomblin has said that other measures to bring in those who steal electricity to the table of paying for electricity have been exhausted. She further said that there is only one remaining measure, the most draconian of all, and that is to shut off electricity to troubled communities. We certainly cannot afford to move in this direction.
So, while Energy World International has been granted a licence to add more energy to the national power grid to bring down the cost of electricity, let's remember that, as a society, we have a humanitarian approach to consider, especially towards the most vulnerable in our society.
Jevon Minto
jminto10@stu.ncu.edu.jm
Paulwell has no more options
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